Sony linked to Ericsson buyout

An online report suggests that Sony could be on the verge of an aggressive move into the mobile phone market by buying out partner Ericsson from their joint mobile business.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the move will cost Sony between $1.3bn and $1.7bn.

Sony Ericsson has been a major player in the mobile phone sector for a decade now, but has struggled in the market since the rise and domination of the smartphone.

Its most recent stab at the limelight was the PlayStation Certified Xperia Play, which combines smartphone staples such as a touchscreen and Android games with a slide-out traditional game pad.

Though no official sales numbers have been released, they are believed to be tracking well below expectations.