Sony 2007 Annual Report Download - page 23

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20
Sony United
Creating a lifestyle brand combining
both hardware and software
As a company, what does Sony represent to you? How
do you see the Sony Group developing over the next 10
years?
My grandfather was a great Sony fan and so there has
always been an abundance of Sony products, like tape
recorders and radios, around me since I was a child. I
was always amazed and delighted, thinking, “Wow, this
product can do that!” In 10 years’ time, I would like Sony
to be a company that is still able to generate such
amazement and delight in people.
Particularly in the United States, Sony is also becoming
known as a lifestyle brand with both hardware and software
that have tremendous public appeal. Through initiatives
such as Sony United, which I mentioned earlier, I think
that over time our games, movies, music and other
software/content will come to symbolize Sony as much
as our electronics technologies.
Generating new business models to drive
future growth
Lastly, do you have anything you’d like to say to the
shareholders?
I believe that the Game business will not only contribute to
the overall performance of the Sony Group, but that it will
serve as an engine for future growth. We are advancing
from an era in which games were enjoyed on disc to the
network era, in which an incredible variety of digital content
can be viewed and enjoyed online in real time.
I view my mission as contributing to the Sony Group
through the PlayStation business. So I am focusing on
building businesses that unleash the potential of the
network era. I don’t intend to rest on the laurels of our
existing businesses and believe it is important to continually
think up new businesses. Merely reacting to changes in
the marketplace is not enough. We have to seek to be the
first mover.
As I mentioned earlier, PSN’s registered users now
number more than 1.8 million. I think there may be a major
transformation when this number doubles, triples or
multiplies tenfold. The immense virtual space that this
represents will not limit the potential to simply advertising
revenue streams—I think we may even see companies
emerge that want to transact business within these
communities.
As this takes place, I am resolved to do my utmost to
develop such next-generation business scenarios and raise
Game business profitability, thereby responding to the
expectations of stakeholders.