SONY Ericsson has manufactured 100 million phones in China through its Beijing-based joint venture, the world's No. 4 handset maker said yesterday.
Beijing SE Putian Mobile Communications Co Ltd, Sony Ericsson's joint venture with China Putian, has made 100 million phones since it was founded in 1995. It now accounts for one-third Sony Ericsson's manufacture capacity globally and exports phones to 119 countries or regions. In 2006, Beijing SE Putian exported products worth of 22.1 billion yuan (US$2.87 billion), 18 percent growth year-on-year. The JV's expansion in future will help Sony Ericsson to become one of the top three both in China and the world, according to Gunilla Nordstrom, Sony Ericsson China's president. Nokia, the market leader, has manufactured 200 million phones in China already. Sony Ericsson has launched both entry-level phones and products with rich multi-media functions, such as Walkman phones, in China.