Sony yesterday reported healthy and higher than expected profits for the October to December quarter, mainly due to robust sales of its games consoles - especially the PSP - and LCD TV’s, with strong demand for its Bravia range of tellies.
However, the firm also announced its intention of drastically cutting its global workforce and stopping production of some of it's most cutting-edge and innovative products, including SPOnG’s favourite, the Aibo robot dog.
Sony’s net profit rose 17.5% to ¥168.9bn (£822m) for the quarter, which is up from ¥143.8bn in the same period last year, whilst overall sales rose by 10.2% to a record ¥2.37 trillion. This is around $20 billion yankee dollars!
However, despite these healthy profits, the firm’s chairman, Sir Howard Stringer, is still on a cost-cutting mission. Sony’s ‘revival plan’ which Mr Stringer announced last year means that the group will aim to shed 10,000 jobs (7% of its global workforce) by March 2008, with 4,500 of these going by the end of this fiscal year.
SPOnG was under the wrong impression that when companies made loads of money, they pumped that money into creating jobs and developing innovative products. Sony has turned this model completely on its head.
Sony Japan has also just used its quarterly earnings report to casually let the news slip that (sadly, for us) it plans to stop production of everyone's favourite robot dog, Aibo. Qrio and the super-expensive Qualia line are also destined for the chop. You can read a full report on all this by clicking[URL=http://www.digitalworldtokyo.com/archives/2006/01/heartless_sony.html#more] here[/URL]
However, the firm also announced its intention of drastically cutting its global workforce and stopping production of some of it's most cutting-edge and innovative products, including SPOnG’s favourite, the Aibo robot dog.
Sony’s net profit rose 17.5% to ¥168.9bn (£822m) for the quarter, which is up from ¥143.8bn in the same period last year, whilst overall sales rose by 10.2% to a record ¥2.37 trillion. This is around $20 billion yankee dollars!
However, despite these healthy profits, the firm’s chairman, Sir Howard Stringer, is still on a cost-cutting mission. Sony’s ‘revival plan’ which Mr Stringer announced last year means that the group will aim to shed 10,000 jobs (7% of its global workforce) by March 2008, with 4,500 of these going by the end of this fiscal year.
SPOnG was under the wrong impression that when companies made loads of money, they pumped that money into creating jobs and developing innovative products. Sony has turned this model completely on its head.
Sony Japan has also just used its quarterly earnings report to casually let the news slip that (sadly, for us) it plans to stop production of everyone's favourite robot dog, Aibo. Qrio and the super-expensive Qualia line are also destined for the chop. You can read a full report on all this by clicking[URL=http://www.digitalworldtokyo.com/archives/2006/01/heartless_sony.html#more] here[/URL]
Companies:
Sony
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Comments
micta 27 Jan 2006 11:29
1/5
Fookin' hell, a talking dog!
Shall we call it Bye-Bo?
It's Comedy Friday @SPOnG!
Shall we call it Bye-Bo?
It's Comedy Friday @SPOnG!
fluffstardx 27 Jan 2006 13:36
2/5
They should get rid of all the Sony Centres, overly expensive under-visited sheds of tosh that they are.
The staff are clueless, the prices silly, and it's just not necessary. There's a load of jobs straight away.
The staff are clueless, the prices silly, and it's just not necessary. There's a load of jobs straight away.
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DoctorDee 27 Jan 2006 13:59
3/5
fluffstardx wrote:
They should get rid of all the Sony Centres, overly expensive under-visited sheds of tosh that they are.
I may be 100% wrong here, but I always got the feeling that SonySheds were a franchise. So the headcount won't be on Sony's books.
They do a lot to lessen the brand's prestige though. Stupid staff and insane prices.
Coxy 27 Jan 2006 15:16
4/5
DoctorDee wrote:
I may be 100% wrong here, but I always got the feeling that SonySheds were a franchise. So the headcount won't be on Sony's books.
They do a lot to lessen the brand's prestige though. Stupid staff and insane prices.
I thourght Sony Centre was a franchise as well, which is a shame because I wish Sony would close them down.
Their prices are rediculous though, especially when compared to Dixons or Currys or whatever, the only things I could possibly afford is the crap in the bargain bin, and even that's overpriced.
Still, shame about the Aibo dog, eh?
LUPOS 27 Jan 2006 15:20
5/5
am i the only one more concerned with the quiro?!
i mean... the dog is cute and endering... but the qurio break dances and learnes karate! (or atleast ancient japanese sword dance katas) walk at a good rate of speed... climbs stairs... and oh yeah... fookign break dances!!
www.beck.com click videos... then click on the hell yea videa...sah-wheat!
____
i mean... the dog is cute and endering... but the qurio break dances and learnes karate! (or atleast ancient japanese sword dance katas) walk at a good rate of speed... climbs stairs... and oh yeah... fookign break dances!!
www.beck.com click videos... then click on the hell yea videa...sah-wheat!
____
