ATLANTA (AP) - Cell phone giant Sony Ericsson is moving its North American headquarters from North Carolina to Atlanta as part of a global consolidation that will cut about 2,000 jobs.

Sony Ericsson spokeswoman Stacy Doster said Atlanta was chosen
in part because of its proximity to AT&T Inc., one of the company's
largest customers. She also said the city is desirable as a "gateway into Latin America'' because of its international connections through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

She said the 8-year-old company had about 420 jobs at the headquarters in Research Triangle Park after shedding hundreds of
jobs. She said she's uncertain how many of the employees would be
moving to Atlanta.

The restructuring is part of a company strategy to cut its worldwide staff of 10,000 by 20 percent.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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