FIH and Pegatron eyeing Sony Ericsson new smartphone orders

While an earlier Digitimes report indicated that Sony Ericsson planned to outsource its second Windows Mobile-based smartphone to another Taiwan-based handset maker Mobinnova instead of its current partner High Tech Computer (HTC), industry sources have disclosed that two other makers, one of them being Pegatron Technology, are also trying to grab the smartphone order from Sony Ericsson.

Mobinnova, a handset maker under Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry), has seen the majority of its R&D staff being incorporated into Foxconn International Holdings (FIH) since early December, according to the sources.

Sony Ericsson is now in final talks with three handset makers, including FIH and Pegatron – the spin-off manufacturing arm of Asustek Computer – for the new smartphone project, but HTC is not among them, said the sources, adding FIH or Pegatron is the most likely candidate to win the contract.

Sony Ericsson is expected to finalize details with its prospective partner in the first quarter of 2009, with an aim to launch the new Windows Mobile-enabled smartphone before year-end 2009 at the earliest, the sources noted.