The Swedish ERICSSON and the Japanese SONY have confirmed beginning talks over a merger of their mobile telephone branches. The creation of a joint company could be announced next week. The Swedish company holds 10.7% of the world market share for mobile phones, the Japanese only 2%, but the two groups are complementary: ERICSSON would bring its know-how in terms of networks and GSM technology, SONY its experience in marketing and its lead in Internet capable mobile phones.