Topic: More Sony Job-cutting news

[Toruresu]

Hey guys;

Anyone remembers this and this? Well, heres a new article on our news paper. I'll transcribe;
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Sony offers early retirement plan as part of job-cutting efforts
By Hiroko Tabuchi (TAP)
The San Juan Star 12/06/05

Tokyo- Sony Corp. has started offering early retirement to workers as part of its plan to cut 10,000 positions worldwide, an official for the consumer electronics and entertainment company said Monday. The Tokyo based manufacturer of the Walkman audio player and the Playstation video game console in September vowed to revive its ailing electronics operations with a range of reform steps over the next three years, including slashing 4,000 Japanese and 6,000 overseas positions by the end of March 2008. The company started offering early retirement packages Friday to workers in noncore operations, such as human resources and accounts, according to the official who cited company regulations for requesting that she be not identified by name. Managers and rank-and-file workers who have worked at least 10 years are eligible, and Sony will accept applications until Feb. 15, the official said, but declined to give a target figure for the program. Engineers are excluded from the latest voluntary retirement offer as Sony looks to maintain its R&D capabilities, she said.

On top of trimming jobs, Sony's turnaround plan - unveiled by chief executive Howard Stringer on Oct. 22 - calls fro the closing of 11 of its 65 manufacturing plants and shrinking or eliminating 15 unprofitable electronic operations by March 2008. The company has refused to say what those businesses are. Sony's profit in the latest quarter dropped by nearly half from a year ago, as electronics sales stayed flat, its movies business stumbled and earnings suffered from a heavier tax burden and losses related to equity holdings. The company reported group net profit of 28.5 billion yen ($246 million) for the three months ended Sept. 30, down 46 percent from 53.2 billion yen the same period a year ago, as healthy demand for the Playstation Portable handheld machines were offset by shakier performance in the company's core electronics unit, hurt by falling sales of plasma TVs and digital cameras. Rating company Standard & Poor's last month cut its credit rating for the company, citing doubts about the company's restructuring plan. Moody's Investors Service has also put Sony on review for a possible cut on grounds it will be hard for Sony to achieve the earnings success it had in the past.
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So, what do you think? Will the PSP be one of the 15 unprofitable businesses cut by March 2008? Does this explain why was the PS3 delayed (to get people to buy as many PS2s NOW that they are making a profit off of it)? Discuss!

P.S.
If there's a typo on the article, it's probably my fault, let me know and I'll send the scanned article to whomever wants it.

[Djunknown]

Quote
Managers and rank-and-file workers who have worked at least 10 years are eligible, and Sony will accept applications until Feb. 15, the official said, but declined to give a target figure for the program. Engineers are excluded from the latest voluntary retirement offer as Sony looks to maintain its R&D capabilities, she said.

Vouluntary retirement is a good gesture if nothing else. They could just as easily just fire people left and right with nothing for them to fall back on. Except that I wouldn't be surprised if a good chunk of managers take this package and run...

2006 will the PSP's moment of truth. If there's not enough compelling gaming to be had in comparision to the DS, it may be lights out for it.

[couchmonkey]

Quote
Originally posted by: Djunknown

2006 will the PSP's moment of truth. If there's not enough compelling gaming to be had in comparision to the DS, it may be lights out for it.

Disagreed.  I think PSP is here to stay for at least a couple of years to come.  It's selling only a short way behind the DS.

Edit: Granted, the PSP hardware is losing money, but the hardware is getting out there and third party support is still pretty much as strong as for the DS.  I believe the system is making or will make a small profit soon.

[Toruresu]

Well, what about the PS3? Will they be able to take a big hit with the hardware (like the PS2)? What if by 2008 the PS3 and PSP are both non profitable...do you think they'll cut them?

I doubt it, but it would be a dream...

[Djunknown]

Difficult to see. Always in motion the future is...

I'll concede the point of the PSP going away relatively soon. But iF the PSP continues the path of a glorfied, expensive media player, the gamers will walk. Last I checked, its still being billed as gaming portable. If they don't having ball-grabbing games, PSP can exchange its name to Ngage...

[ShyGuy]

How long did ngage hang around? 2-3 years?