Sony Ericsson breaks even in Q3 2011 as revenues hit 1.59 billion Euros

Coming off the back of what became a succession of quarters impacted by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, Sony Ericsson's most recent quarterly results shows signs of recovery.

Revenue for Q3 2011 hit €1.59 billion roughly equal with the €1.60 billion generated in Q3 2010, but up sequentially from €1.19 billion.

Income before taxes came in at €31 million ($43 million), while in terms of net income, the firm broke even down from the €49 million in made during the same quarter last year, but thankfully up on the €50 million the company lost in Q2.

The firm's improvement in fortunes, it's suggested, has much to do with its shift in focus towards smartphones, and the ability to ship them around the globe a factor that had previously been hampered by the havoc the earthquake placed on the firm's supply lines.

Back on solid ground?

In total, 80 percent of the 9.5 million units shipped to retail were smartphones, the total figure up from last quarter's 7.6 million.

"We delivered a solid 73 million Euro improvement in income before taxes as we rebounded from the previous quarter with a 33 percent increase in sales," said Bert Nordberg, president and CEO of Sony Ericsson.

"Android-based Xperia smartphone sales now account for more than 80 percent of sales and we have shipped 22 million Xperia smartphones to date. We will continue to invest in the smartphone market, shifting the entire portfolio to smartphones during 2012."

In terms of the firm's share of the global Android-based smartphone market, however, there wasn't much change.

Sony Ericsson now believes it holds a 12 percent share of Google's platform up 1 percent from the previous quarter.

[source: Sony Ericsson]