ABSTRACT
The name 'Sony' ranks among the world's most recognised brand names, with an enviable record of success in creating innovative products such as the Walkman™ personal stereo, the first transistor television, the first video cassette recorder (VCR) for home use and the 8 mm camcorder. Building on its base in audio and video electronics, the Sony Group's major business areas also include personal computers (PCs), communications products, game consoles and software, motion pictures and music entertainment. Its annual revenue of US$58 billion places Sony among the Fortune Global 50 largest companies, with over two-thirds of its revenue derived outside Japan and with 181,000 employees worldwide (Sony 200Ib).
