Sony gears up to challenge iTunes

 

Gallery

By Hani Megerisi

Posted on 5 Mar 2010 at 12:15

Sony is to release a range of mobile devices, including a smartphone and a multimedia tablet, according to reports.

The devices will include access to a new online store provisionally titled Sony Online Services, the company’s response to Apple’s iTunes, according to the the Wall Street Journal.

The store will sell music and video, and it's thought that Sony will also integrate the PSP gaming system into the new phone, allowing users to download and play videogames. Included will be access to the large back-catalogue of Playstation titles.

The electronics giant has been struggling in the mobile device market, with sales of Sony Ericsson phones decreasing by 41% last year and the PSP flagging in the face of competition from the Nintendo DS and the gaming capabilities of the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Sony is not the only firm looking to topple the dominance of Apple’s iTunes store, which recently celebrated its 10 billionth music download. Microsoft has announced that it will incorporate its Zune and Xbox Live services into the Windows Phone 7 Series in a bid to bolster the service.

Zune has recently enjoyed a pick up in sales, after Microsoft added its video services to Xbox Live, resulting in a reported doubling of HD video downloads and streams.