Sony Ericsson reviews business ties with DoCoMo

Sony Ericsson is reviewing its business ties with NTT DoCoMo, Japan's top mobile telephone operator, which is struggling amid an industry price war, an AFP report said.

The company, a joint venture between Japan's Sony and Sweden's Ericsson, declined to confirm reports it will stop making handsets for DoCoMo. The AFP report quoted spokesman Toshiyuki saying that 'it is true that Sony Ericsson is reviewing part of its product development plans with DoCoMo.' But he added that his company would continue to provide products to DoCoMo.

The Nikkei business daily reported that Sony would stop making mobile phones for DoCoMo and instead focus on overseas markets.

Sony Ericsson will end production for DoCoMo after introducing new models this summer, the newspaper, without citing sources, but it plans to keep NTT DoCoMo as a customer by procuring handsets from other Japanese manufacturers and selling them under the brand of Sony Ericsson, the report said.

The newspaper said Sony Ericsson was planning to shift its business focus to China, Europe and North America as it battles Finnish giant Nokia, which dominates the global mobile telephone market. Sony Ericsson insisted it remained committed to the Japanese market, the AFP report confirmed.