Sony vs. Apple

Sony has finally re-entered the market of personal music players for the first time since 1979. Back then, the “Walkman” revolutionized how people listened to music utilizing the audio cassette.

The new Walkman has overtaken Apple’s iPod in Japan for two months in a row, making it the most popular portable music player in the biggest market in the world. However, the only advantage Sony has in Japan that it doesn’t have in the US is that iTunes doesn’t exist in Japan, as it does in Europe and the US.

Apple’s popular iPod has the capability to play downloaded songs from the popular iTunes service, mp3s, and other popular audio formats, as well as the capability to be broadcast over short range FM transmission to either your car or home stereo, or to your blog so other dorks can hear your songs.

Assuming Sony will include the same features for the new Walkmanas Apple does with it’s iPod, with the obvious exception of iTunes compatibility, the question is raised; which portable music player will come out on top, or will there even be a significant impact with the introduction of Sony’s new Walkman at all?

My prediction is that with the popular Sony brand name, as with any other Sony brand name product, the new Walkman digital music player will be overpriced, yet comparable to Apple’s iPod. As overpriced as it may be, Sony will most likely offer incentives to switch from the iPod to the new Walkman, rumored to have it’s own digital download service by the time of a US release (likely to be either Sony based or some other popular service, such as Napster). Mail-in-rebates, free websites (ala freeiPod.com) and subliminal three pronged advertising (subliminal, liminal, and super-liminal) are sure to play a part in Sony’s marketing campaign as it gears up for it’s new era.

PS - Submit entries for the HB Awards or it will surely be a boring contest.