Jari Ketola
7 Jan 2004 20:51
Consumer electronics giant Sony Electronics has announced that it will be opening an online music service in United States during the spring 2004. The specifications of the service sound quite familiar -- half a million songs at 99 cents per song, $9.99 per album.
The Connect online service will at first work only with Sony portable devices, such as the Mini Disc player. The songs will be available in Sony's ATRAC3 format. Support for devices by other manufacturers will be introduced later on.
In addition to Connect, Sony also unveiled a new high-capacity Mini Disc player Hi-MD Walkman. The Hi-MD discs allow a capacity of up to 45 hours per disc. Sony also plans to introduce several products with "combined functionality". For example a home theatre system connected to the Connect -service.
"Our role is to create new and exciting markets and whereas other companies are playing up the commoditization of products and driving cost, we think there are new ways to create entertainment experiences," said Tim Baxter, head of home entertainment products for Sony Electronics USA.
Source: Reuters