Sony aims for second spot in tablet devices

Sony aims to slide in behind Apple as the world's second-largest maker of tablet devices by 2012, a senior executive said this week. Sony computer division head Kunimasa Suzuki added that a PlayStation phone was a potential opportunity.

Sony, considered a laggard in some areas of high-end consumer electronics, surprised some delegates by not unveiling a tablet rival to Apple's iPad at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Competitors including Samsung, whose Galaxy Tab is out and regarded by some analysts as a potential iPad killer, and Research in Motion - which is getting positive early reviews for its PlayBook - are pushing ahead.

But Suzuki said Sony had ambitions to catch up quickly.

"For sure iPad is the king of tablets. But what is the second, what is the third? Who is taking the second position? That is our focus," he said.

Sony CEO Howard Stringer said the company was biding its time and considering whether the tablet offering should have 3D capability.

"If I want to differentiate it from others, do I release it tomorrow, or do I wait till I differentiate it?"

After Sony disappointed some investors by not unveiling a new tablet, an analyst said it would be difficult for the electronics giant to achieve its goal of becoming the world's second-biggest maker of tablet devices by 2012.

"Many electronics makers have already unveiled tablets since last year, and it would be extremely difficult to come up with products that are different from the others and to steal market share from Apple, the far-and-away front-runner," said TIW senior analyst Takao Hattori.

"To attract consumers, Sony would have to come up with features that are totally unexpected."

Suzuki said he saw casual and social gaming as an area of interest for Sony, adding that a rumoured PlayStation phone was "one potential opportunity", but he declined to comment further.