Sony Invites you to Join the Next Generation at CeBIT 2004

BERLIN, March 1 (PROTEXT/PRNewswire) - Kunitake Ando,President and Group COO of Sony Corporation togive CeBIT opening keynote speech- Sony exhibits AV, IT and digital content convergence- Sony Press Conference to take place on Wednesday, March 17th at14:00 hours

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Kunitake Ando, President and Group COO of Sony Corporationwill deliver the keynote speech at the official opening of thisyear's CeBIT, the world's leading information technology andcommunications trade show. He is the first representative of amedia and technology company to undertake such a presentation,thus endorsing the expansion of CeBIT beyond the worldsof IT and telecommunications and illustrating the fact that Sonyis a key force driving the convergence of AV (Audio Video), ITand telecommunications.

"I am honoured to have been invited to give the CeBIT openingkeynote speech as it affirms Sony's role as a leader inconvergence," says Kunitake Ando. "Our aim is to create anetworked and open platform across AV, IT and mobile telecomproducts for the enjoyment of rich digital content andservices, anytime, anywhere. This year we are seeing significantachievements with consumers waking up to this world of newexcitement and enjoyment."

The Sony theme for CeBIT is 'Join the Next Generation' andits 2000 square meter booth will highlight a variety of productsand applications for consumers to enjoy digital content. Inaddition, Sony's strength as a global provider of entertainmentwill be represented through the latest music, film, and computergame offerings.

Kunitake Ando expands on Sony's involvement with CeBIT: "Weare pleased to build on Sony's award-winning presence at CeBITover the years, especially as CeBIT is embracing the role ofdigital AV alongside ITand telecommunications."

Journalists are invited to the Sony Press Conference, whereKunitake Ando, Chris Deering, President of Sony Europe from April1, 2004, and Wolfdieter Griess, Managing Director of Sony Germanywill be presenting Sony's strategy and CeBIT highlights. TheConference takes place on Wednesday, March 17 from 14:00h to15:00h in the Convention Center, Conference Room 1B, Fair Ground.Please register for this event by email (Julia.rosenthal@ffpr.de)or by fax (611-74131-21). For more information about CeBIT,please visit www.cebit.de.

Meanwhile, here is a taste of some of the innovations andproducts which CeBIT visitors can see from Sony this year:QRIO - CeBIT premiere for Sony's corporate ambassadorQRIO, Sony's two-legged entertainment robot and corporateambassador, is sure to be one of the main attractions at CeBIT2004. QRIO (Quest for Curiosity) embodies Sony's leading role intechnical innovation and entertainment. The refined prototypeappearing at the show is about 60 cm tall and boasts superbmotion capability. It is the world's first humanoidrobot that can walk, jump and run without outside assistance.Moreover, QRIO is driven by artificial intelligence and iscapable of autonomous behaviour.For instance, it can understand as many as 20,000 Japanese wordsand has a very good memory for human faces and voices.Hi-MD WALKMAN - First choice for networked portable audio

Sony, the inventor of the legendary WALKMAN(R), is using thisyear's CeBIT to introduce the Hi-MD WALKMAN. This new deviceoffers the ultimate in storage capacity, sound quality, transferspeed and sheer versatility, and is unique in its portability dueto its small size, shock resistance and long battery life.Significantly increased storage capacity resulting from itscompatibility with the new generation of MiniDisc media, the 1GBHi-MD disc, allows up to 45 hours[1] of recording on one disc.This new MiniDisc delivers up to 100x real time transfer speedand offers true versatility by its ability to store image and PCdata as well as music files.From the world of High Definition

'Seeing is believing' takes on new meaning at CeBIT this yearas visitors are treated to an impressive glimpse of the future ofhigh quality recording and playback in a High Definition (HD)world. Sony is demonstrating its first HDV (High Definition DV)format camcorder, which marks the beginning of Sony's forthcomingplans to introduce a new camcorder with display and videoediting equipment based on the brand new HDV format. When thetechnology becomes widely available, consumers will enjoyshooting and editing video with all the benefits of HD, notablyits outstanding picture quality.WEGA Engine(TM) - the ultimate picture quality

Sony's latest flat-screen television sets with WEGA Engine(TM) picture technology will be available in the storesimmediately after CeBIT. Featured in plasma and LCD models, WEGAEngine(TM) embraces all-digital signal processing and offerextremely natural colours, brilliant picture detail and sharpoutlines. Sony will launch 16 models between the end of March andthe end of April 2004.

Convergence becoming reality: home networking with VAIOSony's VAIO PC's wholeheartedly incorporate the spirit ofconverging IT and consumer electronics. In the context of homeservers, Sony is demonstrating that the vision of the digital ageis already a reality.

Digital audio, video or image data can easily be streamed -whether by cable or wireless - from the home server to anylocation in the house. This is multimedia in the true sense ofthe word - and in compliance with the highest quality standards.The desktops, notebooks and other models in the range arenot only highly versatile networking tools, but with theirelegant design demonstrate that powerful computer technology canalso be extremely stylish.Guaranteed fun for video and photo fans

Sony's new DVD Handycams add a new dimension to the enjoymentof customers for easy shooting, easy sharing and easy playback.This second generation of products retains the link between highpicture quality, camcorder versatility and successful DVDtechnology. Without any further processing, video captured on aDVD can be played back at home on a DVD player, PC or PlayStation2 console.

The new Cyber-shot digital still cameras, each one equippedwith the innovative Real Imaging processor, represent the verybest in digital photographic technology. With their elegantdesign and compact dimensions, the new Cyber-shots will showCeBIT visitors how Sony is setting new standards in digitalcamera applications.Be a singing star with PlayStation 2

Sony Computer Entertainment launches its new PlayStation 2game SingStar, which combines interactive voice coaching with acompilation of 30-plus popular music clips. Unlike existingkaraoke games, SingStar puts players through their paces byemulating the strict criteria applied by celebrity juries in TVshows.

In addition, for any queries about Sony in your respectivecountry, please contact your local Sony PR office."You make it a Sony"

Sony products bring digital technology to life, offering aworld of applications in entertainment and networking. Whetheryou are a novice or an enthusiast, you can shoot your own movieson DVD, edit them with a VAIO and share them with friends andfamily with a DVD player/recorder. You can take perfect stillshots every time with easy to use digital cameras suchas Cyber-shot, then make quality prints, enjoy them cable free onyour WEGA television or simply store your albums on your VAIO.With a Sony network audio device, you can create your ownInternet-sourced music compilations and enjoy them at greatquality at home or on the move. These are just some ofthe ways in which Sony gives you complete control over yourdigital environment, enabling you to enjoy whatever you want,wherever and whenever.About Sony

Sony manufactures audio, video, communications andinformation technology products for the global consumer andprofessional markets. With its music, pictures, game and onlinebusinesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to become a leadingpersonal broadband entertainment company in the 21stcentury. In Europe, Sony recorded consolidated annual sales ofEUR 13.88 billion (yen 1,666 billion) for the fiscal year endedMarch 31, 2003, based on an average market exchange rate for thesame period of yen 120 to the EUR.Sony Europe, with its corporate headquarters at the Sony Centeram Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, is responsible for the company'sEuropean electronics business and registered consolidated salesof EUR 8.62 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003.

For more information on Sony Europe, please visithttp://www.sony-europe.com

[1] When using a 1GB "Hi-MD" disc and transferring data froma PC to the disc at 48kbps with ATRAC3plus.Source: Sony Europe GmbHFor more information, please contact: Sylvia Shin CorporateCommunications Europe Sony Europe GmbH tel: +49 30 2575 5156 fax:+49 30 2575 5174 email: Sylvia.Shin@eu.sony.com www.sony-europe.com/presscenter

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