Sony Ericsson snubs Google over Nexus One

BEIJING, February 24 (Xinhuanet) -- Sony Ericsson turned down the chance to make the Googlephone, because it didn't want to become a contract manufacturer, according to reports in a Swedish newspaper.

Speaking to Sydsvenssan, Sony Ericsson CEO Bert Nordberg said Sony Ericsson will only produce phones under its own brand and not be subcontracted to others.

Sony Ericsson did not want to be tied to one platform. Nordberg recently attended a mobile trade show in Barcelona, where he met Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and discussed the new operating system Windows Phone 7, which is set to appear on some Sony Ericsson phones.

"We will never bet on just one operating system, because we do not know where the market is going, " said Bert Nordberg.

However, Sony Ericsson's refusal to make the Nexus One has not soured relations between the software giant and the phone manufacturer. In the interview with Sydsvenssan, Nordberg says relations remain good with Google. He said Sony Ericsson would also branch out into other areas.

"You will see us expand into other consumer products as they grow together, for example at home. Sony has a huge database of content such as books, movies, games and other things that are valuable to our customers," he said.

Google's Android operating system will feature on some Sony Ericsson phones in the future, but the Nexus One, Google's own phone built by Taiwan manufacturer HTC has captured the imagination of many mobile phone users.