Making Comeback
The Wall Street Journal reported that Sony is making a comeback by means of its business with Apple and Samsung Electronics, two of its former rivals. According to the report, Sony is shifting the focus of its business from TVs, Walkmans, and so on to image sensors for digital cameras.
At present, Sony is the world’s largest digital camera image sensor supplier and is supplying its products for both the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S6. The former uses two Sony image sensors along with its components working with the sensors. The sales Sony gets on each unit of the iPhone 6 is estimated at approximately US$20.
The Japanese company is planning to make an investment of US$375 million, in addition to the US$900 million promised earlier this year, so as to shore up its image sensor business.
Sony has concentrated on image sensors since the business restructuring in February this year. At that time, the company divided its business portfolio into three categories, including image sensors, video games, movies and music in the top-priority category. Smart phones and TV were pushed back and cameras and AV were placed in the middle group. This means Sony is no longer a consumer electronics manufacturer. It has already disposed of its PC division and is looking to sell the TV or smart phone division.