Second Sony Ericsson phone has software problem

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Sony Ericsson said on Thursday that a second of its new smartphones, key to its strategy for returning to profit next year, had been hit by software problems in Britain.

A spokesman for the world fourth largest mobile phone maker said a number of users of the new Aino smartphone, part of the company's Christmas line-up, had experienced problems using the touch screen.

"Obviously we are working as quickly as possible to solve it (the issue)," Sony Ericsson spokesman Mattias Holm said.

"Aino has sold in limited numbers in the UK, so this issue affects only a very small number of customers."

Earlier this week Britain's Carphone Warehouse, Europe's biggest mobile phone retailer, temporarily withdrew Sony Ericsson's recently launched Satio smartphone. This was also due to a software problem.

British retailer Phones 4U followed suit. Holm said that the software problems had only affected a small number of customers in Britain and had not damaged Sony Ericsson's brand.

"At the moment, we don't see any damage or harm done," Holm said. "It is a contained issue affecting only a small number of consumers."

Success in the smartphone market is a key element in Chief Executive Bert Nordberg's plan for returning the firm to profit next year.

Smartphones, with advanced mobile Internet and networking functions, have been the one bright spot in an otherwise depressed handset market over the last year.

While mobile phone makers have been hurt by the global downturn, Sony Ericsson has also suffered because it has lacked a strong smartphone offering to rival Apple's iPhone and Research in Motion's BlackBerry.

Sony Ericsson lost 199 million euros (USD297 million) in the third quarter and has not made a profit since the first quarter of 2008.