Sony Corp surprised a few observers at last week’s Uniforum Unix exhibition in Sweden with the launch of a new Sony Microsystem Scandinavia A/S subsidiary, announcing a range of products including the News Unix workstations, the PopNews user interface software and its new 600Mb erasable magneto-optical disk drive. The company has set up in Oslo and initially is seeking, and has opened negotiations with, potential distributors. It plans a Scandinavian support office which will focus on bringing local and international software packages into the company’s Synergy third party software programme. Sony is looking for 12% of the Scandinavian engineering workstation market by the end of 1990, which is in line with Sony’s overall strategic aim for 10% to 15% of all major markets by that date.
