Media, Entertainment and Gaming
Sony Corp plans to deploy a lighter version of its PlayStation 2 game console later this month, in a bid to boost sales of the device during the holiday season. The new model, which has a built-in AC adaptor, weighs 720 grams, down from a combined weight of 850 grams for the previous model and its external AC adaptor. Sony said the device will go on sale in Japan in November for Ñ16,000 ($140), which is unchanged from the price of the previous model. The timing for overseas launches has yet to be decided. Industry observers say maintaining brisk demand for the PS2, which has sold more than 120 million units around the world, is just as important for Sony as working on boosting the sales of its latest game machine, the PlayStation 3.
NBC Universal Inc. and Jupiter Telecommunications Co. have signed an agreement for NBC Universal to acquire Jupiter Telecommunications' subsidiary company JSBC2. With the acquisition, NBC will be able to launch Sci Fi Channel on J:COM. Under the agreement, NBC Universal will buy 100% of JSBC2, which currently holds the broadcasting license for Reality TV on the SkyperfecTV platform in Japan. The deal is expected to close in April 2008. Jupiter is Japan's largest multiple system operator (MSO) and multiple channel operator (MCO). J:COM provides cable television, high-speed Internet access, telephony, and mobile services to customers through 21 managed franchises.
Internet
Softbank Corp. reported a 221.8% surge in its net profit in the six months to September to Ñ46.5 million yen ($405.4 million) from a year earlier. Softbank ascribed the growth mainly to its mobile telephone business. The company said its operating profit went up 49% to Ñ167.7 billion ($1.5 billion), on revenue of Ñ1.3 trillion ($11.7 billion), up 21.8% from a year earlier. Softbank owns 39% of business-to-business web site Alibaba.com, whose shares surged in their Hong Kong trading debut, as well as 41% of Yahoo Japan, which posted a 20% increase in operating profit in the fiscal second quarter from a year earlier, due to the surge in its advertising business.
Hardware
Olympus Corp. will start construction in late 2008 on a new factory in Vietnam that will produce digital cameras. Company sources indicate that the investment will be about Ñ5 billion ($44 million). Meanwhile, an Olympus spokesman denied media reports that the company has plans to consolidate its two factories in China into one and transfer operations to Vietnam. The company said the plans for an additional base in Vietnam are separate from the projects in China.
Information Technology
The Japanese unit of Microsoft and Sony Corp. is setting up a consortium to study new applications of digital equipment, including consumer electronics. The Windows Digital Lifestyle Consortium includes Toshiba Corp. and Yodobashi Camera Co. as well as 46 other IT-related companies.
Telecommunications
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. (NTT) reported a 33% decline in its group net profit in the fiscal first half ended September, 2007, to Ñ195.1 billion ($1.7 billion). NTT attributed the drop to increased marketing costs at its mobile telephone unit and depreciation of fixed-line facilities and said it is planning to set up an advanced network based on its high-speed, fiber-optic Internet service to counter these negative factors. The group operating profit fell 18% to Ñ563.9 billion, while revenues dropped 1.2% to Ñ5.1 trillion. The company indicated that income from its fixed-line telephone business continued to decline even as its broadband service and system integration operations registered a strong performance. NTT said it has changed its fiscal year group revenue outlook to Ñ10.6 trillion ($95.7 billion) from Ñ10.7 trillion and its met profit forecast to Ñ530 billion from Ñ460 billion. The figures includes an estimated profit from returning a proxy portion of public pension fund assets.
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