Sony Developing iPhone and iPad competitors
By Wilson • Mar 11th, 2010 • Category: Industry News
- Photo: Sony
The Internet is abuzz with chatter about Sony developing devices to both rival and kill Apple’s iPhone-iPad. WSJ broke the story, and technology sites quickly caught on to share opinion and speculation about what the Sony iPhone killer and Sony tablet devices could be and how they would work. We sift through what is known, what is hoped, and what needs to be there at a minimum for Sony to stand a fighting chance.
The almost-known
- Photo: Apple
Though still rumoured – although heavily supported – it is expected that the Sony iPhone killer will be able to download and play original Playstation games. And the Sony tablet will have the ability to play PSP games as well as behave as a convergence device where media and games are all stored. That’s pretty much all that’s known about Sony’s devices.
The need
What Sony needs is a smash hit. While that goes without saying, it is well worth noting that the company’s recent track record, particularly with mobile devices, is not awe inspiring. The PSP Go was an unmitigated disaster with sales so low they didn’t even blip on the NPD’s sales charts.
The Sony e-reader on the other hand is a ‘ho hum’ device that, while competent, simply doesn’t have the incredible software-hardware integration that the Amazon Kindle does. Sony Ericsson’s 2009 sales dropped by a depressing 41%, with Sony even admitting they refused the opportunity to build the Nexus One as if their prospects were rosy.
Possibilities
- Photo: Apple
Imagine if this Sony tablet had PSP games plus Sony music plus Sony Pictures on day one? Or if the Sony iPhone killer launched with Sony’s comprehensive first party lineup built into the device. Now that strategy may not be game changing, but it is sufficiently eyebrow raising. Which is what Sony needs to do to even pull attention away from Apple.
Tags for this article: Sony tablet
