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Each of these will have sections on 1. Sales and market share 2. Trends 3. Launches 4. Advertising campaigns

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Full Articles

12. Sony India Looks At HD Products To Drive Business Here

15 August, 2008

Japan's Sony Corp will focus on high definition (HD) products to grow its business in India. The company is exploring opportunities in categories like notebook PCs, personal audio systems, LCD TVs and digital imaging. Sony is also evaluating a possible price hike of its existing products in India to meet spiralling import costs.

Sony India MD Masaru Tamagawa said the company plans to build demand for HD gadgets by introducing an array of products. "This will also be in line with our strategy to unveil more aspirational products in the Indian market like Organic Light Emitting Diode television," he told ET.

Sony has recently started rolling out HD products in India like PlayStation 3, cameras and camcorders, Blu-ray player, Bravia LCD TVs, home theatre and notebooks. This is in line with Sony's strategy to focus on the BRIC markets in future.

Mr Tamagawa feels higher duties on imports and the depreciating rupee are coming in the way of making Sony products more affordable in India. While Sony doesn't roll out other electronic products in India, it manufactures Sony Ericsson mobile phones in Chennai.

"Spiralling crude prices had also fuelled a rise in input costs globally. In the past three months, the rupee depreciated by nearly 8 per cent, pressurising the cost of imports. As of now, we have not passed any additional cost to the consumer. But if the present conditions linger, we may explore a price hike," said Mr Tamagawa.

Sony India is targeting a turnover of Rs 4,000 crore for FY2008 as against Rs 3,000 crore in 2007. It is looking at 30% growth in revenue from India for the next few years. "We have a software centre in Bangalore which acts as a base for global operations. We employ 350 engineers, we will shortly recruit more," Mr Tamagawa said. 

13. Front-Loading Washing Machine From LG

27 August, 2008

LG Electronics has unveiled its front-loading washing machine model, Steam Tromm, for the Indian consumer. The company aims to garner a 30 per cent market share in washing machine category in India by the end of the year with the new range. Mr V. Ramachandran, Director - Sales and Marketing, LGEIL, said, "The positioning of the washing machines will be defined keeping in mind the requirements and demands of the consumers. Through this launch, we aim at a 30 per cent market share in washing machine category in India by year end." Steam Tromm works on Direct Drive Technology, which demands negligible maintenance and has low level of noise. It is priced at Rs 70,000.  

14. Sony Launches New Bravia Series Of LCD TVs

15 August, 2008

Sony India, for the first time in India, has introduced its new Bravia series of LCD TVs in Kochi on Thursday to coincide with the Onam festival season.

Mr Masaru Tamagawa, Managing Director, Sony India, said at a press conference that the company originally planned to launch the new model during the Diwali season. However, this has been advanced and we are testing the market by launching during Onam. Moreover, Kerala is a good market for Sony with a 52 per cent growth, he said.

Unveiled for the first time in the world, Mr Tamagawa said that the Bravia series provides a combination of high quality images with powerful side speakers for a complete entertainment experience. The product is available in three models of 19 and 26 inches. Moreover, the product has a built in FM radio as well as highly customable 5-Band Graphic Equaliser, he said. Market

He pointed out that the LCD TV market in India is growing fast and half of the market is occupied by 26 and 19 inches TVs. However, the share of Sony in these segments is quite weak even though the company holds a dominant position in 32 and 40 inches category. The company is targeting 2 million units in the next two years. Sony, with a market share of 25 per cent last year, is aiming to achieve 30 per cent thereby becoming No 1 player in all the segments.

The new series will also contribute substantially to achieve a business turnover of Rs 4,000 crore in this fiscal as against Rs 3,000 crore achieved in the previous fiscal, he said. Regarding the Onam sales plan in Kerala, the Managing Director said that the company is targeting 10,000 units during the festival season with a sales turnover of Rs 75 crore as against Rs 50 crore achieved last year.