Sony Prepare E-Reader, compete iPad

Jakarta - Sony Corp. will launch an e-reader and content distribution services in Japan at the end of the year to rival the iPad presence in that country which appeared Friday (29/5).

Manufacturer PlayStation and Bravia flat-screen TVs is said also plans to launch an e-book in China, Australia, Spain and Italy this year. Electronic book reader is similar to Sony's Kindle from Nook from Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble are present in the United States, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

While the debut of the computer-entertainment system that also functions as e-reader iPad is expected to increase e-book market is still a little Japanese, where according to Chimera Research Institute will increase two-fold to U.S. $ 1 billion (Rp 9.1 trillion ) in four years.

Sony has been working with the telecommunications operator KDDI Corp., printing companies Toppan Printing Co. and Rights Shimbun newspaper to plan for the preparation of content services by offering books, comics, magazines and newspapers.

When asked about the distance of time between the launch iPad in Japan and launch of content distribution services, Sony said the expansion of the available content is far more important than the time of entering the market.

"An e-book business does not make sense if it does not come with enough content in terms of both quantity and quality. You have to build the first system to be sure, "said Sony Electronics senior vice president, Fujio Noguchi.

"I do not think we're late."

Sony Electronics is a division of Sony's U.S. electronics sales. Although the company will be held each quarter by Sony, KDDI, Toppan and Asahi, but the content distribution business will be open for other companies to join, and there will be some kind of e-reader terminals from different companies, said the Sony.

Does the company will offer content for the iPad or a Kindle? "It was not me who decided But it will be an open system. I do not deny that possibility, "said Noguchi.[inilah.com]