*Okay, let me see if I fully grasp this corporate strategy. Stunned by market setbacks, Sony Ericsson plans to recover by firing its own skilled work force, then selling top-end cell super-gizmos to rich guys.
*Isn't that the *opposite* of Fordism? I mean, this is not a mass market at all. This is a niche digital feudal market, where
Sony Ericsson plans to make productive people as poor as possible, while kowtowing to whoever survives. I mean, shorn of the shareholder corpspeak, that's the basic plan here, right?
Blingbling for the top-end, porridge for the rest.
*I wonder if EVERYBODY plans to try this strategy now. If so, we're going to be hip-deep in classic state-corporate fascism by next Christmas.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/157830/sony_ericsson_posts_loss_predicts_gloomy_2009.html
"To turn things around it will look for ways to cut costs by a further €180 million each year, in addition to the €300 million it already expects to save through, for example, the elimination of 2,000 jobs it announced in July.
"But cost cutting won't be enough to turn things around; more new, cool phones are also needed. Part of Sony Ericsson's plan is to intensify its efforts at the top end of the market, combining music, imaging and Internet services, said Anders Runevad, corporate executive vice president, speaking in a conference call. (...)
"Accelerating its push in the high end segment is the right decision for the company to make, according to Blaber.
"Given that the market is becoming polarized around the high and low end I think they've got to refocus on the high tier. This is Sony Ericsson's core competency and gives them the best chance of restoring profitability," he said.
But that won't be enough, according to Carolina Milanesi, research director at Gartner.
"On the product side they will need to increase usability, diversify applications support and work on the services side. They will [also] need to show that they are moving from imaging and music to Internet services," she said via e-mail. (((Maybe they can also levitate, emit the odor of sanctity and manifest the stigmata.)))
