Sony Corp of America has teamed up with the Visa USA arm of Visa International to create a global information and entertainment centre to promote and market Sony’s media products, on the World Wide Web. Sony says those that log on to the Sony Station site next spring will be able to preview and discuss music compact disks – presumably only those from Sony Music Entertainment, television programmes and films, shop for Sony products and play interactive games with other Internet users. Programming will include on-line versions of television games such as Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. Visa USA says it will share development costs and revenue from the Internet venture. It has the exclusive agreement to supply the electronic payment systems for Sony’s Internet services, and Sony may become its electronics partner in the development of the equipment for new payment systems such as Smart Card readers, the New York Times reported. CKS Group Inc in Cupertino, California will design and run the Web site for Sony.
