Mark Bridge writes:
I remember a report from last year that said ‘non-smart’ touchscreen handsets – generally those without a popular operating system – would be bad news for mobile operators.
Conventional touchscreen smartphones tended to result in higher-than-average ARPU thanks to their early-adopting tech-loving users, their web-friendly browsers, their email programs, their app-friendly operating systems and their fast 3G connectivity. However, dumber touchscreen devices – those with a manufacturer’s own proprietary OS and perhaps a clumsier browser – could generate 23% less ARPU than smarter phones. So, if touchscreen dumbphones weren’t good for networks… and weren’t really good for consumers either… manufacturers wouldn’t really bother with them. Right?
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Sony Ericsson's fourth quarter results are a mixed bag of improvements and declines. Shipments were up 3% from the previous three months to 14.6 million units, although this is 40% down year-on-year. Quarterly sales were €1.75 billion, up 8% from Q3 but down 40% year-on-year. The company says these year-on-year decreases were mainly due to a downturn in the global handset market and the unexpected popularity of mid-price touchscreen phones.
Net losses were €167 million; an improvement from a €187m loss year-on-year but slightly worse than the previous quarter.
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