Biology of Business

Sony Ericsson Mobile

Consumer Electronics · Founded 2001 · Defunct 2012

By Alex Denne

Sony Ericsson's decline from premium phone maker to exit demonstrates how joint ventures can prevent adaptation. Neither Sony's media nor Ericsson's telecom DNA produced smartphone success. The venture that made iconic music phones couldn't transition when smartphones became pocket computers. Sony bought out Ericsson in 2012 then largely exited phones.

Key Facts

2001
Founded