sony

Customers choose the big brands.

Protoype displayed at SxSW.

Sony has expanded its expertise in 4K technology, developing the world’s first 4K smartphone, Xperia Z5 Premium, shown to select media at an exclusive event in Sydney’s Circular Quay on Thursday evening. With Sony’s Alpha™ camera technology, users can capture split-second moments at a record speed of just 0.03 seconds (faster than a blink of an eye). The new integrated fingerprint sensor power button also makes the device more personal, protected and easily unlockable.

While the arrival of Sony’s 5.2in Xperia Z5 smartphone was no surprise to the guests at the company’s media event at IFA on Wednesday, it is the subsequent comments by Sony Corp president and chief executive Kazuo Hirai that is receiving much attention. Speaking to the Financial Times, Hirai said Sony is open to pursuing a tie-up with a traditional carmaker to capture the automotive market.

Sony Australia has told Appliance Retailer it is maintaining the status quo and will not be following as Sony US begins to dismantle its direct sales operations and exit its US e-commerce site at the end of August.

Sony’s CFO Kenichiro Yoshida, who has been an important driver in the company’s turnaround strategy initiated by CEO Kazuo Hirai, says it’s time to start investing in the future.

Not too long ago, if Sony sneezed the TV industry caught a cold. It’s not like that now, as the beleagued company goes about dismantling its direct sales operations and exits its e-commerce site at the end of August.

Sony is refusing to enter the fight over curved SmartTVs, led by Korean giants Samsung and LG, and is instead relying on its latest range of ultra high definition 4K TVs coupled with high definition audio to impress consumers.

It’s a category dominated by one player, but the rivals are lining up for a piece of the action…

The Deloitte’s eighth annual Global Powers of Consumer Products report for the 2013 to June 2014 fiscal year found this year was challenging for the global economy but there are significant opportunities within the Australian and Asia-Pacific region.