Sony Mobile, the global smartphone company, has taken the decision to withdraw its smartphone business from India.  It wants to de-focus from certain markets so as to be able to concentrate fully on its focus countries such as Japan, Europe, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

"The company is looking at cutting down its operational costs by 50 percent.  Last year, it had shifted its operations from Beijing in China to Thailand.  It has been a work in progress," a report says.

Africa, Australia, Mexico, Canada and the Middle-East are also among its non-focus areas.

The company will also reduce to half its number of employees in the next 1.5 years.  About 2,000 employees could be moved to other business operations within the company or retrenched.