Sony Corporation today reported its revenues for the third quarter of the financial year 2015 that ended December 31, 2015. Sales increased 0.5% year-on-year to 2,580.8 billion yen (US$ 21,507 million) compared to the same quarter last year. Operating income increased 20.1 billion yen year-on-year to 202.1 billion yen (US$ 1,685 million). Sony shipped just 7.6 million smartphones in the quarter compared to 11.9 million in Q3 FY14.
Mobile communications division reported sales of 384.5 billion yen (US$ 3,204 million), down 14.7% year-on-year due to a significant decrease in smartphone unit sales resulting from a strategic decision not to pursue scale in order to improve profitability. Operating income in the mobile sector increased 13.8 billion yen year-on-year to 24.1 billion yen (US$201 million).
“This significant increase was primarily due to an improvement in product mix reflecting a shift to high value-added models, as well as reductions in costs including marketing, research and development and other selling, general and administrative expenses, partially offset by the above-mentioned decrease in smartphone unit sales and the negative impact of the appreciation of the U.S. dollar, reflecting the high ratio of U.S. dollar-denominated costs,” said Sony.
In devices sector sales decreased 12.6% year-on-year to 249.9 billion yen (US$ 2,082 million) primarily due to a significant decrease in sales of image sensors, reflecting a decrease in demand for mobile products, and a significant decrease in battery business sales.
In mobile sector, for the current Q4 FY15, Sony expects sales to be lower than the October forecast primarily due to an expected decrease in smartphone unit sales.