">Forum Views ()
">Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Sony Ericsson puts U.S. focus on camera phones in '09
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Search
Search:
Sony Ericsson puts U.S. focus on camera phones in '09
Reuters - Thursday, March 19
By Sinead Carew
ADVERTISEMENT
NEW YORK - Sony Ericsson is betting heavily on camera phones in the United States this year, hoping high-end photography will convince consumers to buy a new phone or replace digital cameras.
The Sony Corp and Ericsson venture has seen strong international sales of its Cybershot camera phones and Walkman music phones, but has yet to make big inroads in the U.S. market.
While some analysts are skeptical about the timing for such devices, Sony Ericsson plans to launch its C905 8 megapixel camera phone in the hope the boost in picture quality and carrier promotions will help it increase sales here.
"We're going to be really focused on this device starting in the second quarter," said Jon Mulder, the company's head of product marketing for North America. "We know that this device is going to be relevant to consumers in the second half."
Mulder estimated the device, which sold for as much as 400 euro in Europe, would cost $199 to $249 here after carrier subsidies, which typically tie customers into a two year contract in exchange for the discount.
The phone could work on the networks of either AT&T Inc or T-Mobile USA, owned by Deutsche Telekom AG. While Mulder said he was confident it would be sold by at least one of the carriers, he would not say which.
Sony Ericsson says consumers are be keener than ever to have a high-quality camera with them at all times in the form of a cell phone because of the trend for sharing everyday photographs on social networks such as Facebook.
But analysts worry consumers might not be willing to pay the premium price for a boost in picture quality during a recession and when Apple Inc's iPhone has already set a benchmark price of $200 for more powerful smartphones.
"It's a challenging case to make, particularly in this age where we're seeing standalone 8 megapixel cameras offered for $100 or less," said NPD analyst Ross Rubin, who noted that Cybershot is already a strong standalone camera brand.
Sony Ericsson has also announced a 12 megapixel camera phone, Idou, which it does not plan to sell in the U.S. market this year. But this device also faces analyst skepticism.
Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi said that 2 megapixel cameras will make up about 35.8 percent of North America camera phone sales this year with only about 2 percent of sales generated by 8 megapixel camera phones. She sees demand growing to about 19 percent for these cameras by 2012.
"For the majority of consumers 5 is probably good enough and what should be improved is flash and zoom rather than pixels," she said.
Sony Ericsson will have to share the market with at least one bigger phone rival, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, which has launched its 8 megapixel Memoir phone through T-Mobile USA for $249 a month.
But Mulder said there were many factors in favor of its high-end camera phone this year, not least the fact that when U.S. operators decide to promote a phone, it tends to do well.
And despite the hype around touchscreens, lead by iPhone, he noted that many people still want more traditional phones like Cybershot, which has easy to use physical buttons.
"There is a large consumer segment that is still very much interested in a feature phone," he said referring to phones with features such as cameras that are cheaper than smartphones.
And he said that, if customers who need to replace their phone and their camera are worried about splurging due to the weak economy, they may end up choosing a combined device.
"This is as close to a replacement as you'll ever get," he said, pointing to multiple features such as BestPic, which lets a user take several shots quickly from one button press, and Panorama, the ability to put a collage of photos together to make up a bigger picture.
Sony Ericsson was the No. 4 global handset provider in the fourth quarter with sales of about 24 million phones.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Personal Technology
Sony Ericsson puts U.S. focus on camera phones in '09Reuters - Thursday, March 19
Sony Reader taps Google's public domain booksReuters - Thursday, March 19
Nokia to shutter its "Mosh" success storyReuters - Thursday, March 19
Nokia to cut another 1,700 jobs worldwideAFP - Wednesday, March 18
Related Articles: Technology
British-built robotic fish to detect pollutionAFP - 2 hours 19 minutes ago
Cisco buys Flip Video maker for $590 millionReuters - Friday, March 20
Sony Ericsson puts U.S. focus on camera phones in '09Reuters - Thursday, March 19
Sony Reader taps Google's public domain booksReuters - Thursday, March 19
Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 8Reuters - Thursday, March 19
Enlarge Photo
A Sony Ericsson Cybershot C905 phone is displayed during a media preview at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 7, 2009. REUTERS/Steve Marcus
Related Photos
Slideshow Full Photo Coverage: Personal Technology
Related Full Coverage
Personal Technology
Mobile phones & personal gadgets
All Full Coverage
Most Popular – Technology
Viewed
Actress Natasha Richardson dies after ski accident
Obama takes responsibility for AIG bonus fiasco
Warming to speed icesheet collapse
Arrest warrant issued for Lindsay Lohan
Madoff auditor surrenders on fraud charge
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Thursday, 19 March 2009 U.S. and Asia should match European welfare net: EU
| International
|
Sudan ready to talk to U.S. envoy, wants normalcy
| International
|
Israel's Netanyahu courts center-left Labor
| International
|
UK to reveal secret agents' interrogation methods
| International
|
Nokia to shutter its Mosh success story
| Technology
|
Consumers want unrestricted Internet access: survey
| Technology
|
NBC boss: Jon Stewart's criticism absurd, unfair
| Entertainment
|
Kelly Clarkson tops U.S. album chart
| Entertainment
|
Cable industry hopes downturn keeps people at home
| Entertainment
|
Clash guitarist reveals his Rock & Roll library
| Entertainment
|
Sotheby's withdraws star lot from Versace auction
| Entertainment
|
Japan's Kuniyoshi inspired Monet as well as manga
| Entertainment
|
NATO recommits troops for Afghan polls
Israel mulls tougher terms for Palestinian inmates
Israeli dad blames Olmert over failure to free son
Austria's Fritzl faces verdict in murder trial
| International
|
Global warming leaving its mark on polar bears
Lebanese president rules out direct Israel talks
U.S. mulls counter-insurgency push in Afghanistan
| International
|
French President faces new strike test
Arab child's sickbed is part of the battleground
North Korea guards detain U.S. journalists: TV report
| International
|
Actress Natasha Richardson dies after ski accident
China to send more ships to South China Sea
| International
|
Warming to speed icesheet collapse
Israelis round up Hamas politicians in West Bank
| International
|
Madoff auditor surrenders on fraud charge
U.S. plans soon to ease ban on contacts with Iran
| International
|
Fed adds $1.15 tln to economic fight
Madagascar's Rajoelina takes office
Homemade bomb explodes outside Greek MP's office
| International
|
Fed to add trillion dollars to economic fight
Azerbaijan votes to lift Aliyev term limit
| International
|
Italy's Unicredit seeks state aid
Global warming leaving its mark on polar bears
Mexican tariffs on 89 US products take effect
China says US could hold up climate deal
New Mexico governor bans death penalty
Warming to speed icesheet collapse
Obama cautious on gay rule in US military
Democrats split on fast-track budget for Obama
Colombian ex-army major sent to US on drug charges
New government brochure explains climate science
Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 8
| Technology
|
Officials: US prepares civilian 'surge' in Afghan
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,259
Sony Reader taps Google's public domain books
| Technology
|
US-TECH Summary
Sony Reader taps Google's public domain books
Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 8
IBM in talks to buy Sun Microsystems: sources
| Technology
|
Mexico to raise tariffs on US goods
Sun rises on IBM purchase reports
Privacy group urges probe of Google cloud services
Woman among two favourites for Slovak presidency
Nokia to shutter its "Mosh" success story
Briton freed after 27 years as conviction quashed
Consumers want unrestricted Internet access: survey
Barroso well placed for second term as EC chief
Fujitsu cutting 1,750 Philippines jobs
Ontario to help emerging tech firms raise capital
France attacks pope condom comments
Sony Reader taps Google's public domain books
Space tourism to take flight in 2012
Nokia to shutter its "Mosh" success story
Pope sparks condom backlash on Africa visit
Natasha Richardson dies after ski fall
| Entertainment
|
Elimination gives American Idol its final 10
| Entertainment
|
Kanye West charged in airport scuffle
| Entertainment
|
Japan PM: NKorea sanctions warning over rockets
VH1 resuscitates Behind the Music
| Entertainment
|
Tiger Woods' fee queried in Australia
Nicolas Cage journeys deeper into sci-fi
| Entertainment
|
Beijing human rights law firm shut down
China may up patrols amid South China Sea disputes
Stacy Keach had mild stroke: spokesman
| Entertainment
|
Militants to free Red Cross hostage in Philippines
Shows honored for television with conscience
| Entertainment
|
Thai PM faces no confidence motion
Salma Hayek back acting in Adam Sandler comedy
NKorean military detains US journalists: report
Aid group says worker killed in Sri Lanka war zone
China firm shares tumble after failed Coke bid
Vietnam reports another human bird flu case
GRAPHIC-S.Korea's 'March crisis' not showing up in markets
Filipino troops to pull back, hostages threatened
Experts say Asia needs to rely less on exports
New York Dolls reunite with Rundgren for new album
| Entertainment
|
S.Korea govt to buy $2.8 bln in local bonds-report
Springsteen leads Seeger 90th birthday tribute
| Entertainment
|
Lights on for some Kabul residents
Toyota to halve recruitment in 2009: report
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
SKorea to spend US$3.5bln to create jobs
VH1 resuscitates "Behind the Music"
AIG boss, Obama in the hot-seats as Congress fumes
Elimination gives "American Idol" its final 10
Taiwan dollar at 1-mth high on Fed bond purchase
Albania businessmen hope to outflank crisis
China's US$65mln Costa Rica investment
Natasha Richardson dies after fall on ski slope
S.Korea to spend $3.5 bln for more jobs
Richardson was a true daughter of the theater
Filmmaker depicts ugly underbelly of corporations
Contents of Versace's home sell for 7m pounds
AP NewsAlert
Maxis commits $10 billion to India mobile unit
Austria's Fritzl gets life in psychiatric ward for incest-murder
| International
|
Israel seizes Hamas political leaders
Arab League chief presses for Iraqi reconciliation
Bomb attack kills Afghan MP, four bodyguards
| International
|
Hundreds of thousands march in French protests
| International
|
Israel to probe reported abuse by soldiers in Gaza
Israeli soldiers break ranks over Gaza war
| International
|
Operator BAA 'must sell three UK airports'
Military to check reports of ethical abuse in Gaza
Yemen offers reward to help track down militants
| International
|
Bomb kills anti-Taliban Afghan MP
EU leaders under pressure to boost economies
Israel seizes 10 Hamas members in West Bank
Outside forces ravaging Africa: Vatican
| International
|
Bin Laden urges Somalis to topple new president
| International
|
Israeli ex-president Katsav indicted for rape
| International
|
Zimbabwe says in talks with West on sanctions
| International
|
Sony Ericsson puts U.S. focus on camera phones in '09
| Technology
|
Sony Ericsson puts U.S. focus on camera phones in '09
Cisco flips for Flip
| Technology
|
Sony Ericsson puts U.S. focus on camera phones in '09
Sotheby's Versace villa sale beats estimates
| Entertainment
|
Cannes in first as animated film opens festival
| Entertainment
|
Violence at Indonesian Greenpeace protest
Broadway thriving despite recession
| Entertainment
|
North Korean guards detain U.S. journalists
Kyrgyz court rules for early presidential vote
Cambodian court sentences American to 13 years
Aid group says worker killed in Sri Lanka war zone
SKorea arrests Japanese near border with NKorea
Militants agree to free Red Cross hostage: official
S.Korea c.bank may buy T-bonds for extra budget-paper
CIA director meets with Indian security officials
Goldman offers bid for Universal Studios Japan
Parents say Sichuan quake school not built to code
China shares up for 4th day on revival hopes
Japan mulling more sanctions against North Korea
Reports: China East Star airline chief detained
Nationalistion of China's first private airline
'Late Late Show' host Ferguson has comedy special
China Mobile reports 2008 net profit up 30 percent
HSBC Taiwan sees profits in '09 vs record profit yr ago
Sotheby's Versace villa sale beats estimates
Cannes in first as animated film opens festival
Japanese stocks get hit by jump in yen
Pixar 3D animation 'Up' to open Cannes filmfest
Report: 1st medics turned away in Richardson fall
'American Idol' contestants head to Motown
Broadway thriving despite recession
Chow Yun-fat to play Confucius in new film: media
Greenpeace activists roughed up in Indonesia
'Kosmos': the singing, swimming mayor of Kiev
Cisco buys Flip Video maker for $590 million
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights