Advanced Television

Sony expanding download service

September 1, 2010

Sony is planning to launch a subscription-based music and video service to run across a range of its devices. The service will allow users to download music and video to their PS3 and PSP consoles (which are already internet-connected for game and film downloads on PlayStation Network) and then share it between Sony devices including Vaio computers, Walkman music players, Blu-ray players and Sony Ericsson mobile phones.

The service is not expected to be available until early next year, as deals are confirmed with all the major labels and studios.

Sony paid $260 million for the file identification technology Gracenote in 2008 and started building the subscription service in 2009, when Sony president Howard Stringer stated that 90 per cent of Sony products would be internet connected and connect to each other by 2011.

The Network expansion follows last month’s launch of a new 320GB and 160GB PS3, replacing the 250GB amd 120GB models, plus the annnouncement in May that Sony would be partnering with internet cinema service Mubi for PS3 users from October.

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