Sony Nears Deal to Buy Out Ericsson From Joint Venture
In a sign of the central role smartphones will play in its future consumer-electronics strategy, Sony Corp. is nearing a deal to buy out Telefon AB L.M. Ericsson’s stake in their mobile phone joint venture, according to people familiar with the matter.
By wresting full control of Sony Ericsson, a 50-50 joint venture created in 2001 that is the world’s sixth-largest cellphone manufacturer, Sony aims to integrate the smartphone business with that of its tablets, hand-held game machines, and personal computers to save on costs and better synchronize development of mobile devices, the people said.
