With the world-renowned Consumer Electronics Show in process, techies are shivering with excitement. While home electronics, gaming devices, computers, etc. remain important, smartphones have taken the lead in this year’s show. The cutthroat competition in the smartphone market combined with vast growth expected in 2013 make for a boiling hot category. Sony hopes to capitalize on this sensation by introducing an all-new smartphone model that will compete directly with the Apple and Samsung.
This new model may very well be the make-it-or-break-it moment for Sony. A Japanese colossus that was once untouched in the electronics segment, it has now seen losses for four consecutive years. The company is therefore severely reliant on the new phone, as confirmed by Mr. Kuzuo Hirai, who was appointed CEO of Sony in April 2012. Hirai is reportedly hoping that the forthcoming model will single-handedly revive the company and catapult it to profits by 2014. Descriptions of the phone itself have also matched its significance and dramatic release. Dennis van Schie, Sales and Marketing Chief at Sony, was quoted describing this phone as a flagship model that can rival Apple’s iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S III.
With so many factors pinned on to one phone, you are bound to see thrill among Sony fans, smartphone experts, market analysts and other niche groups. But, it doesn’t end there. An important fact about Sony’s new device is that it runs on Google’s Android OS. This means that it has the power to unleash another round of battle between Apple and Google. With Google already dominating all Samsung phones and Apple’s recent iMaps fiasco, this is one of the most interesting competitions tech fans have ever seen. Will Samsung + Sony equal to a triumph for Google over Apple? We don’t know, but this question will definitely invite a lot more eyeballs to CES.
Finally, we have Samsung coming up with a fresh smartphone model during the conferences too! Samsung has consistently seen Apple as its main competitor and no one expects a new iPhone anytime soon, so this new roll out by Samsung might have sailed through without making any headlines – if it hadn’t been for Sony’s head-to-head announcement that is. It is safe to say that Sony has rattled quite a few boats with this perfectly timed move. But will it be disruptive enough? Only time will tell.
