If you've been panicking over the past few weeks about whether you'll have to replace your Xperia phone with some generic "catalog Android," we've got some relief for you. Sony has decided to publicly explain what's going on with its phones after announcing a decline in sales in Europe and starting to flirt with outsourcing the production of its top models. (Yes, the mid-range Xperia has long been made by OEMs.)
Financial Director Sony group, Sue Lin, said yesterday during the presentation of financial results that Xperia is “a very important segment of the business for us”. And no, this is not a PR phrase, but a pretty clear confirmation that the brand is not yet in the museum of technological relics. She added something that Sony has been repeating for a long time: “Communication technology is not just for smartphones.” Translated: don’t be surprised if the next Xperia also functioned as a remote control for your future Sony spaceship.
Of course, not everything is rosy for Sony. Their star of the year – the Xperia 1 VII – came to market with some… ahem… technical challenges that forced them to temporarily halt sales and launch a replacement program. It was also the only new model they introduced this year, meaning there is no sign of an Xperia 5 VII or Xperia 10 VII.
To make things even more “fun” – Sony recently said goodbye to the Finnish smartphone market, and is increasingly moving its sales online. If you live in Finland, you won't find your new Xperia 1 VII on the official Sony website or from local partners. Similar restrictions apply in other parts of Europe. But don't panic - you can still order them in selected countries via Sony's online store or Amazon.
Bottom line? Xperia remains. But if you're a fan, you'll need to become a good online hunter - and prepare to find your next one. We searched for Sony a little further than the nearest store.
