Japan's Sony Corp (NYSE: SNE ) is revving up to take on Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL ) dominance in the market by planning to launch a new music and video download service that will link a range of its devices, The Financial Times reported.
The report said Sony expects to make an announcement at the IFA technology show in Berlin on Wednesday, which coincides with Apple's scheduled event on the same day in the U.S.
Sony, the world's second-largest camera maker and the third-largest flat screen TV maker will unveil the service that will work across its various Internet-connected devices such as Walkman music players, Vaio computers, Bravia TVs, Blu-ray players and Sony Ericsson mobile phones, but it will not be available to consumers until next year, the report said.
Earlier this year, Sony had launched video-on-demand service "Qriocity" in the U.S. However, it has so far not been able to gain ground on Apple in the download market.
Similarly, Apple is expected to unveil a revamped iPod on Wednesday, and it is widely speculated that an announcement about its own TV project, Apple TV, is also forthcoming.
Meanwhile, Sony said it will invest about 40 billion yen ($475 million) to boost production of image sensors at a plant in southern Japan.
The company said in a statement it expects further growth in demand for the sensors, used in digital cameras, including those embedded in mobile phones.
Sony said it will invest the money over the remainder of the current financial year and the following year, which ends in March 2012.
International Business Times, The Global Business News Leader
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