Sony is winding down Xperia sales in Europe - crisis or strategic manoeuvre?
Several sources suggest that Sony is preparing to completely withdraw from the European smartphone market. A vivid confirmation - Xperia 1 VII never appeared in shops or from operators in Finland and disappeared from the official site of Sony there and in several other countries.
Here's What We Know
Officially Sony told Finnish publication SuomiMobiili that the model will not be sold in Finland: the company relies on the online channel - its own website and Amazon in selected countries, but not in Finland. The manufacturer specified that it will continue updates and service for existing users.
In addition, a number of European pre-orders of the Xperia 1 VII were cancelled without explanation - signs that Sony is gradually withdrawing from traditional retail.
Behind the scenes, it's not just low demand. In Japan, sales of the Xperia 1 VII have already been suspended due to mass complaints: the devices switch themselves off, reboot or do not switch on at all. A similar problem is noted in European markets, there Sony has already launched an investigation and gave temporary instructions for forced restart .
Another worrying sign: Sony is outsourcing production of the flagship to third-party companies - stopping production at its own factories in Thailand and China.
If Sony completely withdraws from the European phone market, it will put an end to the Xperia era - when its smartphones were known for their top-notch camera and design. Amid technical problems, the Xperia 1 VII risks becoming the brand's last flagship on the continent.
Source: SuomiMobiili
