With new devices coming out one after the other and the XPERIA line revitalized with the X10 and the Pureness, it comes as a large surprise that Sony Ericsson announced that they will be closing down some locations and in the process, hundreds of employees will be put out on the streets looking for jobs –figuratively speaking of course.
The major news is that the Research Triangle Park in North Carolina will be shut down sometime between July to September of 2010. This closure will mean that 420 workers will be losing their jobs. While some will be receiving severance pay, others will have the chance to work in other Sony Ericsson headquarters.
Sony Ericsson will be moving its North American operations to Atlanta, where its close proximity to the AT&T should help bolster the company. AT&T is one of Sony Ericsson’s major customers. Some workers from the Research Triangle Park will have a chance to work in the new Atlanta location or in California.
The source also indicates that Sony has laid off around 2000 employees as of the previous year. This is followed by the closure of various Sony Ericsson offices in Miami, Seattle and San Diego as well as the closure of a facility in Chennai, India. The Miami office has been absorbed by the North American operations while the work of the Chennai facility will now fall on the shoulders of a facility in Lund, Sweden
Sony Ericsson currently holds the position of the 4th largest mobile phone manufacturer in the market. With the announcement of SE offices being shut down, eyebrows are being raised as to whether something is up with the company. While the company’s performance as of late has been lackluster, there has been much talk that their upcoming X10, Pureness and Kurara would help change the status of the company.
Tags: Sony-Ericsson