Sony has unified its online services for music, video and games under the umbrella brand of the Sony Entertainment Network.
“We’re leveraging the biggest asset, the Sony brand, to establish a comprehensive, global platform called Sony Entertainment Network,” said Kaz Hirai, president of Sony’s consumer products and services group, at a news conference at the IFA trade show in Berlin.
Sony plans to incorporate Sony Entertainment Network services across its product range. Hirai added that the move will “accelerate the integration of hardware, content, and network”.
The electronics giant also plans to encourage third parties to offer their products and services.
New tablets
The news comes as Sony launched two new tablet models, the Sony Tablet S and Sony Tablet P. Both models are powered by Android, with front and rear-facing cameras.
Sony says the S model is available for pre-sale now, and will be on store shelves next month. It features a 9.4-inch touchscreen, weighs in at 1.33 lbs., and offers Wi-Fi connectivity.
The Sony Tablet P offers both Wi-Fi and 4G via AT&T’s network. But it’s the design that’s sure to catch the eye of some consumers. It features two screens that can fold together for easy portability. Each screen is 5.5-inches, and the entire tablet weighs about 0.83 lbs.
Sony also announced its new Reader Wi-Fi, which takes the place of its previous lineup of ereader models. This slimmed down model weighs 168 grams, and Sony claims it’s the lightest ereader in the world.
