Sony Mobile Communications will focus on the mid-range to high-end smartphone segment in the Taiwan market in 2015, aiming to rank as one of the top-three vendors in the segment, according to Jonathan Lin, president of Sony Mobile Taiwan.

Citing a statement from company CEO Hiroki Hotoki, Lin said that the Sony Group has no intension to sell off its handset business unit and instead will further solidify its operating base in 2015 before making a turnaround in 2016.

In Taiwan, Sony Mobile currently ranks as the fifth largest smartphone vendor in terms of sales volume, trailing Apple, HTC, Asustek Computer and Samsung Electronics. It holds the fourth position in terms of sales value, trailing Apple, Samsung and HTC.

In 2015, Sony Mobile will focus on the over-NT$18,000 (US$578) and NT$7,000-12,000 segments in the local market, Lin said.