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Sony has yet to make a big splash in the US with mobile devices. The company is hoping its “Demand Great” event on Thursday in New York will change that.
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CNET editor Scott Stein and photographer Sarah Tew will join me there to bring you all the details live, with photos and commentary. Doors open for the event at 10:30 a.m. PT, with things beginning in earnest at 11. We’ll start up the live blog about 15 minutes before that — so plan to drop by CNET at 10:45 a.m. PT.
Sony is well known for its line of televisions and its PlayStation gaming franchise, but the company has struggled to make a name for itself in the smartphone business, a category dominated by Samsung and Apple. Sony is a virtual no-show in the US, where T-Mobile has been the lone supporter for its Xperia smartphones and where Verizon Wireless sells one of its tablets.
Smartphone business as a whole continues to be a drag on Sony. The company last month warned that it would post a loss of $2.1 billion, thanks largely to a $1.67 billion charge it had to take to write off the diminishing value of its smartphone unit. Still, Sony isn’t likely to give up on mobile devices, given how central they are to any consumer-electronics company.
CNET’s live blog of Sony’s “Demand Great” event
Sony has rarely held large launch events specifically for the US market, so the company could have something big in store. Sony unveiled a huge slate of products at the IFA trade show in Berlin last month, and some of those products could be making their way to the states. T-Mobile has already confirmed its intention to carry the Xperia Z3 , and more partners could be on the way.
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The Xperia Z3 has won critical praise for its waterproof body and extended battery life.
Though Sony may just end up rehashing announcements for the products it unveiled last month, this time with US specifics, one surprise could be a demonstration of its products’ deeper integration with the PlayStation 4. “Demand Great” sounds a lot like the PS4’s slogan, “Greatness Awaits.”
As usual, we’ll be using ScribbleLive to bring you live text and photos, blow by blow. Join us Thursday at 10:45 a.m. PT.
