<p>Sony President and CEO Kazuo Hirai (Image credit: AFP/Getty Images via @daylife)</p><p>Since Sony took full control of their mobile division (buying out Ericcson from the joint effort that was Sony Ericcson in February 2012) the Japanese company been building up their range of Android devices, gathering critical acclaim with high end smartphones, fashionable tablets, and building up an ecosystem in the mid-range.</p><p>But like many handset manufacturers before them, Sony has a little problem called America. The Xperia range has not managed to become established in either the US or Chinese markets. With Japan and Europe alone accounting for over 60% of Sony's Android sales, they have decided to focus their efforts on these regions, ceding the US and Chinese markets to the competition. While there may still be discussions with networks in the US, Sony is going to expend effort in areas which will provide a better return.</p><p>This is a similar situation that Microsoft and Nokia have found themselves in. Strong sales in Europe have pushed the Windows Phone platform to almost 10% market share, while the US share struggles to get over 3%. This means Redmond is going to have to run significantly different strategies in the US and the rest of the world, because you market differently if you are a major player or a niche entrant.</p><p><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/ewanspence/2013/10/13/sony-has-no-plans-for-the-us-smartphone-market-in-2014/">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://phandroid.com/2013/10/11/sony-xperia-us-market/">Sony not focusing on US as company looks to increase smartphone shares ...</a> (Phandroid.com)</p><p><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/11/us-sony-smartphone-idUSBRE99A05720131011">Without grand plans for China, US, Sony set to lag in smartphones</a> (Reuters)</p><p><a href="http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/11/4826986/sony-cedes-us-smartphone-market-to-competition-for-now">Sony cedes US smartphone market to competition, for now</a> (The Verge)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dAuTpG29sT87L3MQw8U1MJLCdWcxM&ned=us">101 additional articles.</a></p>