Bangalore, Feb 25: Sony India Software Centre (SISC), the domestic arm of Sony Corporation of Japan will play an important role in the conglomerate's future audio-visual and information technology (AV/IT) business.Sony Corporation chief technology officer Minoru Morio said the Bangalore unit will develop platform software and support-business software applications through its two divisions -- software architecture division (SAD) and system design division (SDD). The centre, set up with an initial investment of around Rs 59 crore, will have a staff strength of 31, he added.
Bangalore was chosen mainly to take full advantage of the abundant software development resource available in the city, Morio said.
However, the company has decided to have different locations for its two units. The SAD division will be located in the city and will work closely with the platform-development centre in Tokyo to develop consumer electronics platform software for advanced consumer electronic products.
The SDD unit willfunction out of the International Technology Park and will work with the Singapore-based Sony Systems Design International Pte Ltd to design support and maintain business-software applications.
Sony Corporation platform software-development centre head Akikazu Takeuchi said, "The company's mission is to establish a real consumer electronics platform to enable more attractive and innovative applications and services that exploit the convergence of AV/IT technologies.
Sony India managing director Yoshio Kubo said the software developed by the Bangalore centre will be exported to other regions for use by various Sony firms.
On Sony India's performance, he said progress has been rapid since its inception in 1995. "Today the company has around 800 employees, offices in all major metros, a network of 34 distributors and around 1,300 dealers.Sony India's emphasis will continue to be quality," he added.
Software is the key to success in many businesses, including the broadcasting, computer entertainment andmusic industries, Kubo said. "What we are looking for is forward integration and hope the domestic arm will fulfil it," he added.
`No compromise on price to boost sales'
Sony India will not slash prices for increasing the sale of its colour televisions in the country. Sony India managing director Yoshio Kubo said, "Quality and reliability will continue to be the company's USP. Admitting that sales have not exactly been burgeoning, he said the company will now focus more on semi-urban areas like Chandigarh, Patna and Guwahati. "While we are strong in the metros there is much to be done in the semi-urban areas," he said.
The company will launch around 7-8 new models in the audio/TV segment, Kubo said. He, however, refused to divulge more details. The company is targeting a sales turnover of around Rs 500 crore this fiscal compared with Rs 200 crore in 1995, the company's first year of operations. The Japanese firm has so far invested around $18 million in its Indian operations, he said. Apart fromthe new models to be launched the company will continue to manufacture 14-inch, 21-inch and 25-inch Trinitron televisions and 9 models of audio products at its facility in Drauhera, Haryana.
The domestic arm exported over 40,000 colour televisions during the last fiscal, he said.
While the company has no plans to set up new manufacturing units at present, Kubo maintained future action will depend upon demand. The company also plans to launch blank compact audio cassettes and carbon zinc & alkaline batteries in the country later this year, he added.
Copyright(c)1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
