Sony said sales from its Mobile Communications unit rose 45 percent year-over-year in the quarter that ended Dec. 31, its fiscal third quarter. However, Sony also cuts its annual forecast for smartphone sales. The dampened forecast comes as Sony said it will sell its PC business, which sells notebooks under the Vaio brand, to buyout firm Japan Industrial Partners.
Sony lowered its smartphone sales target for the full fiscal year to 40 million units from its previous forecast of 42 million units. According to the Wall Street Journal, Sony CFO Kato said smartphone sales in China and other Asian countries as well as in Europe were weaker than the company had expected. In the U.S. market, Sony has released the Xperia Z1S, a follow-up to the Xperia Z, which T-Mobile US (NYSE:TMUS) is selling for $528 upfront, or for $0 down with 24 monthly payments of $22 per month. Article (sub. req.)