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Sony Corp.'s Walkman digital music player outsold Apple Inc.'s iPod in Japan last week for the first time in more than four years, according to electronics research firm BCN Inc.
The Japanese company's share of portable music players sold climbed to 43 percent in the week ended Aug. 30, exceeding Apple's 42.1 percent, ending the lead that the iPod maker had kept since January 2005, the Tokyo-based researcher said in a statement. The iPhone also cannibalized iPod sales, according to BCN, which didn't count the iPhone in the survey because the product is also a wireless handset.
Sony, whose Walkman cassette players pioneered the portable-music industry in the late 1970s, gained market share after introducing models including the W series of cordless players that sell for under 10,000 yen ($108). Sony in July raised its sales forecast for the devices.
IPod prices in Japan range from 8,800 yen for the shuffle to 47,800 yen for the 32- gigabyte touch model, according to the Apple Store.
“Sony has gained customers seeking less expensive products and those seeking high quality by broadening its lineup,” Kazuharu Miura, an analyst with Daiwa Institute of Research Ltd., said. “But you can't really say Sony regained its competitiveness against Apple unless it improves its market share in the U.S. and Europe.”
Sony on July 30 lifted its sales forecast for digital music players to 6.7 million units for the year ending March 2010 from its May estimate of 6.3million. That compares with 7 million sold in the previous year.
Apple may introduce new iPod models at its “rock and roll” event on Wednesday, helping the company regain its share, the researcher said.
