Panasonic has said it will begin sales of its own smartphones in Japan early next year and overseas in 2012.
The move is a late but attempt to grab share of the booming market. The phones will be based on Android. The Japanese consumer electronics giant admitted it was late joining the smartphone party, but said it hoped push its phones based on its network capabilities with other Panasonic products.
Osamu Waki, head of the company's mobile communications unit told a news conference admitted the company misjudged the speed at which smartphones would be taken up in the Japanese market. He thinks that thanks to Android his company can move quickly.
Panasonic wants to flog 15 million phones worldwide buy 2015, compared with forecast sales of 5.4-5.5. million units in Japan alone in the year to March. Panasonic pulled out of overseas mobile phone markets in 2006 in a “boy, that was misjudged” move.
Wednesday, 17 November 2010 13:00
Panasonic will sell phones outside Japan again
Written by Nick Farell
Better late than never
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