Among the most important IT news in September, introducing of the "Integrated User Experience" by Sony is the most interesting from the Techno Yoda perspective! So if you want to know why, please read this:
The "Integrated User Experience” named "Sony
Entertainment Network" by Sony which is going to combine two hacked services:
"Qriocity" and "Playstation Network". In the other word,
this can be perceived as the first phase of getting rid of those hacked brand
by re-branding and integrating them into the new brand. By this integration Sony gets rid of Qriocity completely by
re-branding its services from “Video On
Demand powered by Qriocity” and “Music
Unlimited powered by Qriocity” to “Video
Unlimited” and “Music Unlimited" and also transforming the
"Playstation Network" a.k.a PSN as a sub-brand of "Sony
Entertainment Network". Also, this integration allows Playstation users to
use the services provided under these brands (Qriocity and PSN) by one account
as Kaz Hirai, probably the next Sony CEO, described it as: "The next
evolution towards the goal of realising a single, global comprehensive network
platform of all network services which will be accessible from one convenient
account." which can be translated as integrating music and video on demand
and also Playstation games together. But the question is what “all network
services” means for Sony and is integrating music and video on demand with
Playstation games enough for the company?
More than six years ago at the time of the historical
appointment of Sir Howard Stringer, the Welsh-born US citizen and the first
foreign CEO in the Sony’s history, he vowed
to integrate Sony's entertainment arms with the electronics to make synergy.
Sony's entertainment industry can be seen as its core competence. However, the
company has failed to use this core competence to fight its competitors such as
Samsung so far.
Sony is providing several online services which can be seen as
parallel lines which intersect each other in infinity!
Here are some samples:
- Myplay by Myplay.com which provides video, music, photo and mobile download related to the Sony Music’s artists such as Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Usher, Justin Timberlake, etc.
- Online services provided by Sony Pictures such as trailers and mobile games download.
- Sony Online Entertainment (SOE), which provides online games and entertainment.
- Playnow by Sony Ericsson which covers downloading mobile contents for Sony Ericsson mobile phones such as applications, games, ringtones, music , videos and wallpapers.
- Reader Store which provides ebooks for Sony eReaders.
These are just some examples. Sony has several other network based
services for its regional websites as well. It took six years for the company
to integrate its music and video on demand and Playstation games together. So
the estimation for integrating the other services is not possible easily!
Another interesting fact regarding the Sony Entertainment Network
is its availability for Android devices. All Android users can download the app
from Android Market and start using Video and Music Unlimited. So it seems Sony
has not made up its mind about its network based devices strategy. While video
and music on demand services are available for competitors’ devices as well, the
new Reader app will be just available for Sony and probably Sony Ericsson
branded devices.
Techno Yoda believe that it is vital for Sony to integrate all of the online services together ASAP. Otherwise the path to integration with speed of a snail would be a never ending voyage!
Techno Yoda believe that it is vital for Sony to integrate all of the online services together ASAP. Otherwise the path to integration with speed of a snail would be a never ending voyage!
