Verizon scraps its exclusive Sony phone before it even launches
The carrier's decision not to introduce the Xperia Z4v is a big blow to Sony, which has struggled to break into the US market with its smartphones.
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The Sony Xperia Z4v phone never even had a chance to fail.
Sony and Verizon Wireless said on Monday that they had decided to not introduce the Xperia Z4v into the US market.
The surprise move deals a big blow to Sony's ambitions to establish a larger foothold in the US market. Support from Verizon, the nation's largest wireless carrier, coupled with Sony's focus on gaming and its ability to connect with the company's PlayStation 4 console, was supposed to help raise the Japanese electronics conglomerate's profile with US consumers. Despite the success of its PlayStation console for gamers, few consumers even know Sony makes smartphones.
Sony said both companies agreed on the cancellation. "The decision was made after we have taken into consideration such factors as the competitive landscape and launch timing," said a company spokeswoman. A Verizon spokesman echoed those sentiments without offering additional specific details.
There have been hints of problems with the Xperia Z4v, which was a modified version of the Xperia Z4 that added a larger battery and wireless charging. After its initial unveiling in June, both companies grew silent about the product. A Sony event held in New York over the summer was dominated by games from PlayStation, its virtual reality system, and other products like cameras, with only a single small area dedicated to showing off the Xperia Z4v.
Then there is the Xperia Z5 family, which debuted at the IFA trade show in September. The announcement of the three new phones rendered the Xperia Z4v outdated before it even launched.
Sony has long struggled to work with the US carriers. It previously had a strong relationship with T-Mobile, but essentially dropped the carrier to focus on developing an exclusive smartphone, the Xperia Z3v, for Verizon.