Form 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of October, 2005
Commission File Number: 001-06439
SONY CORPORATION
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
7-35 KITASHINAGAWA 6-CHOME, SHINAGAWA-KU, TOKYO, JAPAN
(Address of principal executive offices)
The registrant files annual reports under cover of Form 20-F.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F,
Form 20-F X Form 40-F __
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
Yes No X
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):82-______
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SONY CORPORATION
(Registrant)
By: /s/ Nobuyuki Oneda
(Signature)
Nobuyuki Oneda
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Date: October 17, 2005
List of materials
Documents attached hereto:
i)Press release announcing Sony Ericsson Q3 Results
Sony Corporation Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
6-7-35, Kitashinagawa SE-164 83 Stockholm
Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 141-0001 Japan Sweden
PRESS RELEASE October 17, 2005
Hit Models Boost Sony Ericsson Performance
Highlights:
- Solid growth & market share gain
- Increased R&D investment generating expanded portfolio
- Strong demand across portfolio
The consolidated financial summary for Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
(Sony Ericsson) for the third quarter ended September 30, 2005 is as follows:
Q3 2004 Q2 2005 Q3 2005
Numbers of units shipped (million) 10.7 11.8 13.8
Sales (EURO m.) 1,678 1,614 2,055
Income before taxes (EURO m.) 136 87 151
Net income (EURO m.) 90 75 104
Units shipped in the quarter reached 13.8 million, a 29% increase compared to
the same period last year and a 17% increase sequentially, substantially higher
than sequential market growth. Sales for the quarter were Euro 2,055 million,
representing a year-on-year increase of 22%. Income before taxes was Euro 151
million and net income was Euro 104 million, which represents a year-on-year
increase of Euro 15 million and Euro 14 million respectively. The company
continued to increase investment in marketing and R&D to support the expansion
of the portfolio going forward.
Sony Ericsson began to reap the rewards of earlier increased investment in R&D,
expanding the product portfolio with hit models like the K750, the award-winning
2 megapixel, auto-focus camera phone, the first WalkmanTM phone, the W800, which
has been exceptionally successful, and the K600 series, which has brought Sony
Ericsson UMTS handsets into the mid-tier price category. The company grew faster
than the market during the quarter with the popularity of higher-end phones
having a positive effect and raising the profile of more affordable, volume
models like the T290, J210 and K300. Average Selling Price (ASP) rose during the
quarter reflecting the proportion of higher-end products entering the product
mix.
The global handset market continued to grow faster than expected, and Sony
Ericsson is upgrading its global market outlook for 2005 to over 760 million
units.
"This has been a good quarter for Sony Ericsson, proving that our strategy of
expanding the product portfolio upward into best-in-class imaging, music and 3G
products while increasing the number of more affordable and attractively
designed volume models is paying off. We are increasingly benefiting from the
opportunities created by the joint-venture, and with three new Walkman(R) phones
shipping in the fourth quarter (W550, W600, W900), we are optimistic that Sony
Ericsson can set the standard in music as well as imaging going forward," said
Miles Flint, President of Sony Ericsson.
Walkman(R) is the registered trademark of Sony Corporation
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications serves the global communications market with
innovative and feature-rich mobile phones, accessories, PC-cards and M2M
solutions. Established as a joint venture by Ericsson and Sony in 2001, with
headquarters in London, the company employs approximately 5,000 people
worldwide, including R&D sites in Europe, Japan, China and America. For more
information, please visit www.SonyEricsson.com
CONTACTS:
Investors/Analysts
Ericsson Investor Relations
Gary Pinkham (Stockholm) +46 8 719 0000
Sony Investor Relations
Takao Yuhara (Tokyo) +81 3 5448 2180
Chris Hohman (London) +44 20 7444 9711
Press/Media
Ericsson External Relations
Pia Gideon (Stockholm) +46 8 719 2864
Sony Corporate Communications
Koji Kurata (Tokyo) +81 3 5448 2200
Sony Ericsson Corporate Communications
Aldo Liguori (London) +44 208 762 5860
Merran Wrigley (London) +44 208 762 5862
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve inherent
risks and uncertainties. We have identified certain important factors that may
cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in such
forward-looking statements. For a detailed description of risk factors see
Sony's and Ericsson's filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission,
particularly each company's latest published Annual Report on Form 20-F.