Jobs at risk as Sony

Lund.
Mobile phone manufacturer Sony Mobile is considering to save away several hundred jobs in Lund. One proposal under consideration is to move the development of new models to Japan and just keep software development in Lund.

The leadership of Sony Mobile worked yesterday with a strategic plan to be presented to the Board later in the day. Among the proposals being considered is a powerful savings package that can touch hundreds of services, possibly more.

The information comes from multiple insiders. They describe, independently, a future scenario where Lund slimmed from being a broad global location of mobile phone development to be in a local development unit focuses on developing software for mobile phones.

It would in particular mean that many support functions can be slimmed, but above all to the development and design of the hardware to the new phone models moved to Japan.

Today, software developers about half of the 3 000 employees and consultants working for Sony Mobile's' Lund. Sydsvenskans sources talk about everything from "several hundred jobs" to "nearly a thousand jobs" are threatened, depending on which way the company's board ultimately chooses to go.
- The aim is to bring down the numbers, but it is not unlikely that it will to act on these levels, says one of the sources.
- There are still various measures to mitigate the effects, so I can not say how many there are, says another centrally placed source.

The same source confirms that the issue of Lunda unit's future and the already announced move of Sony Mobile's headquarters are on the agenda of the Board meeting.
- And with the move of its headquarters following services.

It is unclear, however, if there is no decision on austerity packages already on today's board meeting, or if it is delayed to a later meeting.

As Sydsvenskan experience trying namely, among others Chairman Bert Nordberg curb the most drastic variations of savings plans. He was president of the mobile manufacturer at Sony's acquisition of Ericsson's half ownership in the early years and is widely considered to have made great efforts to protect Lund position for the transition from Sony Ericsson to Sony Mobile.

Of course he would not comment on details of an upcoming savings package, when Sydsvenskan spoke with him late yesterday.
- I would neither confirm nor deny, there are so many parameters, he says.

Nor communications manager Gustaf Brusewitz to answer any questions about the purchase plans being prepared.
- We have not announced anything about the organizational changes. If and when the time comes we will communicate it, he says.

Even from the union side is it secretive, but Ulf Bengtsson steward for Swedish engineers know that the future is healthy discussion among members.
- If it gets all speculate if it will be a very difficult negotiation. And somewhere, owners must show that Lund is also important for the future, otherwise we will lose a lot of our skills, he says.

The information about a possible reduction in the mobile giant in Lund worries business manager in Region Skåne, His Henecke:
- It is less important today than in the past, but it still plays role in attracting other companies to set up here. We have not yet reached the critical mass of telecommunications companies in the region that Sony is replaceable. We need them at least a few more years, he says.

Do you know more? Email 71234@sydsvenskan.se .

Sony Mobile

In February, consumer electronics group Sony Ericsson over half ownership in Sony Ericsson, after more than ten years of co-ownership. The purpose of the purchase was to build in mobile technology in a growing number of Sony products. Since then it has been rumored savings. In March came the first notice concerning 149 service in Lund. This summer also showed that Sony Mobile moves headquarters to Japan. How many services affected by the move are not clear in the current situation.

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