Sony outlines its 2001 business plans

At a press conference on Wednesday, SCEI discussed several specific details regarding its fiscal 2001 business plan in Japan. The company outlined its partnership with NTT DoCoMo, which involves plans to connect Sony's PlayStation console with NTT's popular i-mode mobile phones. Sony will release the SCPH-10180k link cable, which will let consumers connect their existing i-mode cell phones to the PlayStation. This allows users to view i-mode functions such as Internet browsing, address book management, and e-mail data on a regular television display. The i-mode link cable and related software will be available in Japan on March 29, and they will also be compatible with the PlayStation 2. Sony has not announced similar plans for the North American market.

Sony also discussed the current state of the PlayStation 2 market and its plans to boost sales of the next-generation console, which cost the company's gaming division a reported 13 billion yen ($112 million) in Q3 of fiscal year 2000. Additionally, the company was forced to reduce its worldwide shipment forecasts for the period ending March 2001 from 10 million units to 9 million due to manufacturing problems. According to Ken Kutaragi, president of Sony Computer Entertainment, the company plans to speed up the manufacture of PS2s and has forecasted a shipment goal of 20 million units in fiscal 2001. Sony hopes to release 370 games for the PlayStation 2 in that period, Kutaragi said. Sony could not reveal the North American software release schedule.

Finally, Sony confirmed its partnership with Sega and Namco to develop a new fiber optics network in Japan to link retail outlets, PlayStation 2 consoles, and Namco and Sega's arcade facilities. The agreement will result in networked arcade games and broadband-compatible services. Details regarding specific projects were not disclosed.