Japanese electronics giant Sony has been busy developing new handheld devices in an effort to better compete in the mobile market. Under way is a suite of new devices, including a PlayStation game-playing phone.
For decades Sony has kept its focus on consumer electronics. When the company wanted to compete in the mobile-phone market, it formed a joint venture with Ericsson. Now Sony is expanding its presence in the smartphone and portable-device market.
Engineers at Sony are developing a smartphone capable of downloading and playing PlayStation games, according to published reports. Also reported under way is the development of a portable device with similarities to Apple’s iPad tablet computer with features seen on netbooks, e-readers and its own PlayStation Portable.
“As already announced, Sony (including [Sony Computer Entertainment]) and Sony Ericsson have been strengthening their collaboration in the networked mobile space,” said Julie Han, a Sony spokesperson. “However, it is not our strategy to discuss future products or business plans before we make a formal announcement.”
There has been speculation for some time about Sony developing a PlayStation phone, but the question has always been whether Sony or Sony Ericsson would release it and how it would compete against existing and new devices with similar capabilities.
“Sony has rejected this idea in the past, but in an age where the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and products like Windows Phone 7 Series all have gaming as a core feature, it’s time for Sony to rethink their mobile strategy and just who they’re competing with these days,” said Michael Gartenberg, a partner at Altimeter Group.
What would make more sense for Sony would be to market the device under Sony Ericsson, said Carolina Milanesi, a research director at Gartner.
“I doubt Sony will come out with something that has integrated cellular not under the…