Sony unveils online plan for recovery

From CNET News.com: Sony's chief executive, Howard Stringer, has a grand idea: an all-in-one online network that pipes Sony's films, music, games, and other content to its TVs, Walkmans and PlayStation game machines.

In an interview on Thursday with reporters, Stringer promised to put the ailing Sony back on the technology map with its anticipated networked universe, the Sony Online Service, which will combine the company's digital content and hardware.

The strategy of linking Sony's content--like its collection of Michael Jackson hits and its popular Spider-Man franchise--with the company's electronic gear has a familiar ring. Since the mid-1990s, Sony has proclaimed the benefits of matching its content and hardware, but bickering between its engineers and programmers, as well as clunky software linking the two, has meant the vision has been largely ineffective.

This time, however, it will be different, Stringer said. A revamping announced in February has been completed, and Sony's engineers and programmers are already working better together, he said. He is confident that Sony has developed a winning formula that will outdo the Apple iPod business.

"We have a supreme advantage once we get software right, because the quality of our hardware is exceptional," Stringer said. "I think our hardware is more durable than Apple. You don't want something that breaks down every 10 minutes."

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