Sony Mobile Communications Announces New Operational Structure and Reduction in Workforce

London (ots/PRNewswire) -

Sony Mobile Communications AB ("Sony Mobile") today announced
that it is altering the global operational structure of its
development sites in Tokyo, Japan, Lund, Sweden and Beijing, China.
In October 2012, Sony Mobile will move its corporate headquarters and
certain other functions from Lund, Sweden, to Tokyo, Japan. Sony
Mobile has also redefined the roles and responsibilities of each
major development site to leverage the strengths of each respective
site. These measures aim to enhance operational and development
capabilities of Sony Mobile such as time to market efficiency,
streamline supply chain management and drive greater integration with
the wider Sony group.

"Sony has identified the mobile business as one of its core
businesses and the Xperia(TM) smartphone portfolio continues to gain
momentum with customers and consumers worldwide," said Kunimasa
Suzuki, President and CEO of Sony Mobile. "We are accelerating the
integration and convergence with the wider Sony group to continue
enhancing our offerings, and a more focused and efficient operational
structure will help to reduce Sony Mobile's costs, enhance time to
market efficiency and bring the business back to a place of
strength."

In relation to the operational structure changes, Sony Mobile
plans to reduce its global headcount by approximately 15 percent
(approximately 1000 personnel, including consultants) throughout the
financial years of 2012 and 2013 (i.e. by the end of March 2014) as
the company seeks to increase operational efficiency, reduce costs
and drive profitable growth.

Today Sony Mobile filed a redundancy notification ("varsel") with
the Swedish authorities to notify them that the company expects
around 650 employees across a number of functions at Sony Mobile in
Lund to be affected by job closures. The remaining headcount
reductions will be primarily consultants in Sweden. Lund will
continue to be an important strategic site for Sony Mobile, with the
main focus on software and application development.

Sony Mobile is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation,
following Sony Corporation's acquisition of Telefonaktiebolaget LM
Ericsson's 50% stake in Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB,
completed on February 15, 2012.

"Sony" is a trademark of Sony Corporation. "Xperia" is a
trademark of Sony Mobile Communications. All other trademarks or
registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

For more information, images and videos please visit:
pressreleases.sonymobile.com [http://pressreleases.sonymobile.com ]

Sony Mobile Communications, Global Communications & PR department

About Sony Mobile Communications

Sony Mobile Communications is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony
Corporation, a leading global innovator of audio, video, game,
communications, key device and information technology products for
both the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures,
computer entertainment and online businesses, Sony is uniquely
positioned to be the leading electronics and entertainment company in
the world. Through its Xperia(TM) smartphone portfolio, Sony Mobile
Communications delivers the best of Sony technology, premium content
and services, and easy connectivity to Sony's world of networked
entertainment experiences. For more information:

http://www.sonymobile.com

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Sony Mobile
Communcations, Global Communications and PR, General Press:
+44(0)208-762-5858

ots Originaltext: Sony Mobile Communications
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