The new devices will support the MP3 format, which helps convert CDs into digital files.
Sony said it is now able to address complaints about the company’s over-pricing of its music devices by offering cheaper models, which come with a 256-megabyte flash memory chip and up to 70 hours of playback time; but media speculation has hinted that this latest offering by Sony is an attempt to compete better with Apple Computer’s iPod Shuffle.
The new Sony product devices claim to boast a longer battery life, 50 hours, than the Shuffle, which only lasts for 12. Apple also lacks a display, while Sony is offering 3-line screens to illustrate song information.
According to analysts, while Sony is unlikely to be able to overtake Apple in the competitive market, the company may be able to achieve a No. 2 position by the end of the year.
A year after shipping the hard disk-based Walkman Digital, Sony announced that the new models will be available in May.
