Sony has published its Q1 2013 earnings report, showing a return to profitability for the Japanese electronics giant, partly off the back of stronger smartphone sales. Revenue increased 13 percent year-on-year to ¥1.713 trillion ($17.3 billion), and Sony made a profit of $35 million, versus a loss of $285 million in Q1 2012. The report attributed the change in fortunes to "the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates, an increase in financial services revenue, and an increase in unit sales of smartphones."
Sony's mobile communications division enjoyed a 14 percent year-on-year increase in sales, bringing in ¥389 billion ($4 billion.) Smarpthone unit sales increased from 7.4 million in Q1 2012 to 9.6 million in Q1 2013. The report goes on to state that Sony enjoyed a "significant increase in unit sales of smartphones and an increase in the average selling price of smartphones" — indicating that high-end handsets are becoming increasingly important for the company.
These boosted smartphone sales follow Sony's focus on the flagship Xperia Z line of devices in recent months, a move which it seems has paid off . The immediate future will see Sony Mobile launching theXperia Z Ultra in Europe, as well as its widely-leaked high-end "Honami" phone, rumored to carry the name "Xperia i1." With big product launches on the horizon, Sony will be relying on these devices will strengthen its increasingly important smartphone division in the months ahead.
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