Sony CEO on Music: We Should Have "Gone With Open Technology From The Start"
Posted 05/12/09 at 03:58:27 PM by Andy Salisbury
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Sony CEO Howard Stringer has hit a point in his life where he’s decided to change some things – or at least, talk about it. In a recent interview with Nikkei Electronics Asia, Stringer made some pretty bold statements about Sony’s future and their past.
He claims that going forward, Sony will use more open standards. “If we had gone with open technology from the start, I think we probably would have beaten Apple” in music. A pretty lofty statement considering how insanely popular the iTunes music store is today. But, in its fledgling days, who knows? Anything is possible.
“We can no longer say that we’re right and our customers are wrong. We can’t build only what we want to build,” he continued. If you want to read the full interview, give it a look here.
So, what do you think? Will Sony continue their present ways, or are they going to change for the better (or worse)? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Image Credit: Engadget
All I want from Sony is....
Submitted by dracoress on Wed, 05/13/2009 - 4:10am
A new PSP! One that plays the same, a little better MP3 player and has the same functionality as an iTouch. I want a better web bro. then what we have. Oh and stream video. Then i'd be happy and would gladly buy it! I love my PSP
Great company
Submitted by carlosmessi on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 8:02pm
Great company always make the right choice. I really think that Sony is a great company and it will not die. Cpntinue to work hard sony.
Carlos Messi
www.shopcarefully.com baby.
If Sony really wants to
Submitted by I Jedi on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 6:56pm
If Sony really wants to change the way it does business, then they'd best do it now while they're still afloat.. This is the new age of business..
Submitted by HokieTechie on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 4:20pm
Sony is beyond redemption. We can only hope that they drown in a pile of unsold CDs.
Submitted by Vegan on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 4:44pm
CDs aren't proprietary technology, so that death wouldn't symbolic enough.
Submitted by skhills on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 1:43pm
Definitely this was my reason for steering clear of Sony. Always tender to see someone have a change of heart, *sniff* but you don't win back customers just by admitting you're stupid.
If they weren't strugging financially, they'd have no regrets and keep pushing for the "once you buy something from us, you'll have to buy everything from us" approach (with no noticeable benefit over the alternatives, as others have noted).
Submitted by Keougmi on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 1:31pm
Does this mean no more stupid Sony Memory Stick formats? I refused to buy any Sony cameras, MP3 players etc. because of their stubborn insistence on selling a proprietary format that (was supposed to) lined their pockets but did not offer any advantage over SD cards?
Submitted by majorsuave on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 1:30pm
Does that mean standard usb connectors on SONY gear? SD cards? and such? if so I will consider them on my list of potential products to buy.
Submitted by neo1piv14 on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 1:26pm
In a post iTunes world, I'm not sure that it's good enough to do something well in the music selling industry. You have to do something innovative. Now that music is almost all DRM free online, anyone else is just one more music store that jumped on the bandwagon.
Submitted by rowcall on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 1:23pm
MPC,
where is the link for the full interview?
As for Sony, their acknowledgement of past failed business strategy is merely wolf in sheep skin. Sony's hubris and greed lead to their own demise. I have no sympathy for a business that intend to use its size to bully proprietary technology into mainstream consumer usage. The fact that it takes this long for them to come forth publicly with this realization shows a still recalcitrant Sony. Sony have alienated its core customers, failed to compete with neighboring Asian manufacturers, and reduced is market share. Well done!
Submitted by IFLATLINEI on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 1:16pm
Looks like someone had an appointment with a proctologist recently.
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