Sony 2008 Annual Report Download - page 29

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27
functions and compatibility with one-seg
(terrestrial digital broadcasting) were strong
in Japan. In the U.S. and European markets,
we expanded our business by introducing
new models that responded to consumer
demand for WMA/WMT (Windows Media
Audio/Windows Media Technology) com-
patibility. As a consequence, in the fi scal
year ended March 31, 2008, total unit sales
of digital music players increased 29%, to
5.8 million units.
In the Japanese market, we also kicked
off the ‘au×Sony “MUSIC PROJECT,”’ in
collaboration with KDDI Corporation. This
new service allows subscribers to download
music to their mobile phones for listening
on a Walkman® or NET JUKE hard disk
component stereo system, thereby bridging
the traditionally separate platforms of
mobile phones, PCs and audio equipment
to create a new, fl exible environment for
enjoying music.
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications
AB (Sony Ericsson)—established as a
joint venture between Sony Corporation
and LM Ericsson—shipped more than 100
million handsets in calendar year 2007 at
a growth rate of more than double that of
the global market. During the year, Sony
Ericsson established a solid business
foundation in order to strategically position
itself to capture market share with an
expanded product portfolio, in line with its
goal of becoming one of the top three
players in the industry. Investments are
currently being made in both R&D and
brand-building with the aim of strengthen-
ing Sony Ericsson’s presence in new and
emerging markets. With cumulative sales
of music-enabled handsets reaching 145
million units at 2007 year-end, including
more than 57 million Walkman®-branded
units, Sony Ericsson continues to enjoy a
leading position globally in this key market.
In calendar year 2008, Sony Ericsson
plans to launch XPERIA™, a new brand of
high-performance handsets that will offer
not only music and camera functions, but
also the ability—comparable with that of
a PC—to enjoy a wide range of additional
content.
In fiscal year 2007, the SONY BMG
MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (SONY BMG)
joint venture focused on identifying and
developing talented new artists, as well as
on expanding the fan bases of its estab-
lished and superstar artists. SONY BMG
earned a total of 21 GRAMMY® awards in
08SonyE_P14_27_0802.indd 2708SonyE_P14_27_0802.indd 27 08.8.7 2:18:57 PM08.8.7 2:18:57 PM