Thu, September 02, 2010
Sony says it's optimistic about European recovery and the outlook for the year-end sales season.
Sony is optimistic about European recovery and the outlook for the year-end sales season.
The head of its European operations, says Sony is expanding its online services to include a cloud-based, digital music service by the end of the year.
Its Qriocity video service will also expand this fall in five European countries, and has been available in the U.S. since April.
Europe accounted for 25 percent of Sony's global sales last year.
The plan is to make content available across various Sony Internet-connected devices, such as its Walkman music players, Vaio PCs, Bravia TVs and mobile phones.
Sony has long trailed Apple in the music download market, and the move is seen as a challenge to the industry leader.
Apple unveiled a completely overhauled lineup of iPod media players Wednesday, adding a social networking feature to iTunes called Ping, and video recording capability.
Shares of Sony gained in early Japanese trading Thursday.
Arnold Gay, Reuters.
