Sony Corp., the troubled Japanese giant consumer electronics company, has launched an internal early retirement program in a bid to cut overhead in its headquarters. The company has already announced major worldwide staff cutbacks, but it hopes this new incentive for headquarters staff will cut administrative costs by about 30%.
Sony
HDBaseT Alliance Announces Sony Will Join Group
The HDBaseT Alliance, an organization formed to promote the HDBaseT technology and grow its market, announced today that Sony Corporation will join the group as a Contributor member. One of their biggest “gets” yet, Sony is said to be introducing new energy-efficient HD projectors with the HDBaseT functionality.
See more on this significant announcement from the ever-growing alliance… [Read more…] about HDBaseT Alliance Announces Sony Will Join Group
Sony Puts OLED on the Back Burner; Ramps Up Deeper 4K Commitment
Just days after a similar announcement from South Korean rival Samsung Electronics, Sony Corp. has said it will put OLED technology on the back burner – scaling back development efforts for the forseeable future. Instead, the company says it sees a greater immediate opportunity with 4K Ultra HD LCD TVs and will work to expand its assortment in this product segment.
While Sony puts OLED on the back burner, it is ramping up its 4K commitment now… [Read more…] about Sony Puts OLED on the Back Burner; Ramps Up Deeper 4K Commitment
Samsung Cuts Investment in OLED
In a move that is likely to signify a tipping point in the industry’s adoption of OLED technology, Samsung Electronics is dropping plans to build a new factory that was supposed to help it scale manufacturing of the nascent technology, driving production volumes and lowering cost. But as we’ve reported before, manufacturing OLED…well, it’s just not easy.
See more on this surprising decision by one of OLED’s most vocal supporters… [Read more…] about Samsung Cuts Investment in OLED
Sony’s Struggling Electronics Division is Hoping for a Spider-Man Rescue
Like a damsel in distress, Sony’s money-losing electronics businesses are hoping that Spider-Man can save them…and it just might take a superhero to do it. With Sony Pictures’ The Amazing Spider-Man 2 about to launch in Japan this month – and in the U.S. next month – the company’s hardware businesses have teamed up with their entertainment businesses to launch an aggressive cross-promotion.
Can Spider-Man save Sony electronics?… [Read more…] about Sony’s Struggling Electronics Division is Hoping for a Spider-Man Rescue
UPDATE: Sony Corporate Responds to Strata-gee’s EXCLUSIVE Story on Tech Support Termination
STRATA-GEE EXCLUSIVE
We told you last week about a shocking email received by a Sony dealer which proclaimed in a bold headline that “Sony Technical Support is now terminated.” This seemed to us like a pretty big deal, and yet we could find no official announcement surrounding this email. We dug deep and found sources who told us a hazy and vaguely troubling story that sounded as though the company may be going through some kind of reorganization of its support services.
The day our story ran, we heard from Sony Corporate – seeking to correct some inaccuracies… [Read more…] about UPDATE: Sony Corporate Responds to Strata-gee’s EXCLUSIVE Story on Tech Support Termination
‘Sony Technical Support is now terminated’
No…we’re not joking. This week, a Strata-gee SYNCH reader sent us a copy of an emailed dealer notification (see it below) from Sony. At the top, the email sported a large, bold, black Sony logo. And the headline centered under that logo? “Sony Technical Support is now terminated.”
Has Sony terminated their technical support? See what we’ve uncovered…so far… [Read more…] about ‘Sony Technical Support is now terminated’
Sterns Moves Quickly to Rework Sony’s CI Business
When we first reported on the appointment of Frank Sterns as Sony’s VP of A/V Specialty/Custom Integration on the eve of the September 2013 CEDIA Expo, like many of you…we were skeptical. After all, we’ve heard encouraging announcements from Sony before…only to watch those initiatives in limited distribution, high-end products fall into disrepair through over-distribution, under-resourcing, or both.
But this time is different, Sterns tells us. And as he runs around the country setting up a whole new sales operation…we’re beginning to believe him.
See more on Sterns’ rapid ramp-up of a new Specialty A/V-CIS division for Sony… [Read more…] about Sterns Moves Quickly to Rework Sony’s CI Business
Sony Cuts Get Deeper – A Third of U.S. Staff to be Cut; 20 Sony Stores Will Close
Although not a surprise, Sony Electronics in San Diego began releasing details of a substantial cutback in U.S. facilities and personnel. The company says it will cut 33% of its U.S. staff – about 1,000 employees. Also, the company announced a major retreat from retail as it will close 20 of its 31 total Sony Store locations.
See more on this significant Sony restructuring… [Read more…] about Sony Cuts Get Deeper – A Third of U.S. Staff to be Cut; 20 Sony Stores Will Close
Sony, Finally Making Its Move, Puts the Computer Biz Up for Sale; TV Biz is Next Target for Shake-Up
The Nikkei reported this week that Sony Corp. has finally taken a bold step to reorganize its business by putting its VAIO computer division up for sale. According to the report, the company is in negotiation to offload the division to Japan Industrial Partners (JIP), a Japanese investment company.
