Sony Ericsson was a joint venture between the Japanese company Sony and the Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson, established in 2001. The partnership aimed to combine Sony's expertise in consumer electronics with Ericsson's telecommunications technology to create innovative mobile phones. The brand became well-known for its stylish designs and multimedia capabilities, particularly in music and photography. In 2012, Sony acquired Ericsson's stake, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary and rebranding the products under the name Sony Mobile.