History of Sony in Timeline

Sony Group Corporation is a Japanese multinational conglomerate with headquarters in Tokyo. It encompasses various entities like Sony Corporation, Sony Semiconductor Solutions, Sony Entertainment, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Sony Financial Group. Sony has a diverse portfolio spanning electronics, entertainment, gaming, and financial services, making it a global leader in technology and entertainment industries.

May 1946: Establishment of Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo

On 7 May 1946, Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita established Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo, which would later be known as Sony. The company started with limited capital and a small team of employees.

1946: Establishment of Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo

In 1946, Sony was established as Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo by Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita, marking the beginning of the electronics company's journey.

1955: Release of the TR-55 Transistor Radio

In 1955, Sony released the TR-55 transistor radio, which was the first Sony-branded product and a major milestone for the company.

1955: Launch of the TR-63 Radio

In 1955, Sony's TR-63 radio significantly impacted the U.S. market, pioneering the consumer microelectronics industry.

January 1958: Company name changed to Sony

In January 1958, the company officially changed its name to Sony, marking a significant rebranding milestone.

1958: Name Change to Sony

In 1958, Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo officially changed its name to "Sony", marking a new era for the company and a more globally recognizable brand.

1959: Sony produces the world's first all-transistor television

In 1959, Sony produced the TV8-301, marking the world's first all-transistor television.

1960: Foundation of Sony Corporation of America

In 1960, Sony co-founder Akio Morita established Sony Corporation of America, marking a significant step in the company's global expansion and influence.

1961: Listing on the New York Stock Exchange

In 1961, Sony was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in the form of American depositary receipts, becoming one of the earliest Japanese companies to be listed on an American exchange.

1968: Transistor radio sales reach 5 million units

By the end of 1968, the portable transistor radio industry, boosted by Sony's TR-63 and other models, grew from 100,000 units in 1955 to 5 million units, reflecting a significant market expansion.

1968: Sony introduces Trinitron brand

In 1968, Sony introduced the Trinitron brand for its aperture grille cathode-ray tube televisions and computer monitors.

1971: Masaru Ibuka hands presidency to Akio Morita

In 1971, Masaru Ibuka passed the position of president to Akio Morita, marking a leadership transition within Sony.

1971: Introduction of U-matic

In 1971, Sony introduced U-matic, the world's first videocassette format, but it was not widely adopted for domestic use due to its high cost.

1975: Launch of Betamax format

In 1975, Sony launched the Betamax format, entering the videotape format war against the VHS format developed by JVC.

1976: Environmental Conference

In 1976, Sony established its Environmental Conference to address the company's impact on global warming, the environment, and resources.

1977: Sony demonstrates optical digital audio disc

In 1977, Sony demonstrated an optical digital audio disc, marking an early step in the development of the Compact Disc technology.

1979: Establishment of a life insurance company

In 1979, Sony expanded into the financial sector by establishing a life insurance company, diversifying its business interests.

1979: Sony releases the Walkman

In 1979, Sony released the Walkman, the world's first portable music player, which included MDL-3L2 headphones, revolutionizing music listening habits.

1981: Sony demonstrates prototype of the Sony Mavica

In 1981, Sony demonstrated a prototype of the Sony Mavica, an early electronic camera.

1983: Sony and Philips announce the Compact Disc

In 1983, Sony and Philips jointly announced the Compact Disc (CD), establishing a worldwide standard for optical digital audio storage.

1983: Sony introduces 3.5-inch floppy disks

In 1983, Sony introduced the 90 mm micro diskettes, commonly known as 3.5-inch floppy disks, designed to replace the existing 5.25-inch floppy disks.

1984: Sony launches the Discman series

In 1984, Sony launched the Discman series, extending the Walkman brand to portable CD players, enhancing the accessibility of CD technology.

1985: Launch of Handycam and Video8 format

In 1985, Sony launched their Handycam products and the Video8 format, which became popular in the consumer camcorder market.

1986: Sony launches write-once optical discs

In 1986, Sony launched write-once optical discs (WO), with around 125MB size, designed for archival data storage purposes.

1987: Launch of Digital Audio Tape (DAT)

In 1987, Sony launched the 4 mm DAT or Digital Audio Tape as a new digital audio tape standard.

1988: Nintendo and Sony begin joint project

In 1988, Nintendo and Sony initiated a joint project to develop a CD-ROM version of the Super Famicom console.

1988: Acquisition of CBS Records

In 1988, Sony acquired CBS Records, a significant move to diversify its business ventures and expand its presence in the music industry.

1988: Sony launches magneto-optical discs

In 1988, Sony launched magneto-optical discs, with around 125MB size, intended for archival data storage.

1988: Sony Mavica released for consumer market

In 1988, Sony released the Sony Mavica for the consumer market, marking its entry into electronic cameras.

1989: Acquisition of Columbia Pictures

In 1989, Sony acquired Columbia Pictures, further enhancing its media presence.

March 1991: Nintendo denies Sony partnership

In March 1991, Nintendo denied the existence of a deal with Sony regarding the development of a CD-ROM version of the Super Famicom.

June 1991: Sony unveils Play Station at CES

In June 1991, at the Consumer Electronics Show, Sony revealed the "Play Station", a Super Famicom with a built-in CD-ROM drive, as part of their collaboration with Nintendo.

May 1992: Negotiations between Nintendo and Sony end

In May 1992, negotiations between Nintendo and Sony officially ended, influencing the fate of the PlayStation project.

June 1992: Meeting to decide the fate of the PlayStation project

In June 1992, a critical meeting was held, including Sony President Ohga and Kutaragi, to determine the future of the PlayStation project. Kutaragi presented a CD-ROM-based system with 3D graphics.

1992: Introduction of the MiniDisc format

In 1992, Sony introduced the MiniDisc format as an alternative to Philips' Digital Compact Cassette and as a successor to the Compact Cassette.

1993: Sony challenges Dolby Digital 5.1 with SDDS

In 1993, Sony introduced SDDS (Sony Dynamic Digital Sound), an eight-channel motion picture digital audio format, to challenge the industry-standard Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. SDDS was developed exclusively for theaters and ultimately overshadowed by DTS and Dolby Digital standards.

1994: Akio Morita's retirement as chairman

In 1994, Akio Morita retired from his position as chairman of Sony, marking the end of his leadership tenure during which the company achieved global recognition and numerous innovations.

1996: Patent for Trinitron expired

In 1996, Sony's patent for its proprietary Trinitron technology expired, marking the end of its exclusive rights to this technology.

1996: First Cyber-shot introduced

In 1996, the first Cyber-shot camera was introduced by Sony, expanding its presence in the digital camera market.

1997: DVD format introduced

In 1997, the DVD format was introduced after Philips and Sony abandoned their MultiMedia Compact Disc (MMCD) format and agreed upon Toshiba's Super Density Disc (SD) format with a single modification.

1998: Sony launches Memory Stick format

In 1998, Sony launched the Memory Stick format, flash memory cards intended for use in Sony's digital cameras and portable music players.

1999: Sony introduces portable digital audio players

In 1999, Sony introduced its first portable digital audio players, including a Memory Stick-based player from the Walkman division and a pen-sized player from the Vaio division, featuring OpenMG copyright protection technology.

1999: Price Fixing of Professional Videotapes

In 1999, Sony, Fuji, and Maxell began fixing professional videotape prices through regular meetings and illegal contracts, ultimately leading to a European Commission investigation and fine in 2007.

2000: Criticism for "NGO Strategy" document

In 2000, Sony faced criticism after the leak of an internal document entitled "NGO Strategy", which detailed the company's surveillance of environmental activists and plans to counter their movements related to laws holding electronics companies responsible for toxic chemical cleanup.

2001: Sony sold professional videotapes inside the EU

During the year 2001 prior to the investigation Sony sold professional videotapes for a total of €115 million inside the EU.

2002: Investigation launched by European Commission

In 2002, the European Commission launched an investigation into Sony, Fuji, and Maxell for fixing professional videotape prices. The investigation culminated in 2007 with a 110 million US dollar fine.

2004: Introduction of Triluminos Display

In 2004, Sony introduced the Triluminos Display, a proprietary color reproduction technology featured in the world's first LED-backlit LCD televisions.

2004: Release of Hi-MD

In 2004, Sony released Hi-MD, an extension of the MiniDisc format that allowed playback and recording on new 1 GB Hi-MD discs, along with storage of computer files.

2004: Network Walkman line of digital portable music players supports MP3

Until late 2004, Sony's Network Walkman line of digital portable music players did not natively support the MP3 standard, emphasizing its proprietary ATRAC compression technologies.

Sony MZ-DN430PSBLK Psyc MiniDisc Network Walkman (Black)

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2005: Sony's digital camera market share falls to 9%

By 2005, Sony's market share in the digital camera market had fallen from a high of 20% to 9%.

2005: Howard Stringer appointed CEO

In 2005, Howard Stringer became the chief executive officer of Sony, marking the first time a non-Japanese executive led a major Japanese electronics firm.

2005: Sony discontinues Trinitron computer monitors

In 2005, Sony discontinued its series of Trinitron computer monitors, signaling a shift away from this technology.

2005: Sony introduces BRAVIA name for LCD TVs

In the summer of 2005, Sony replaced the LCD WEGA name with BRAVIA for its LCD TVs, establishing a new brand for high-definition flat-panel LCD televisions in North America.

2006: Sony enters digital single-lens reflex camera market

In 2006, Sony entered the digital single-lens reflex camera market by acquiring the camera business of Konica Minolta and rebranding the camera line as Alpha.

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2006: Sony loses No.1 market share in global television market

In 2006, Sony lost its decades-long position as the No. 1 market share holder in the global television market.

2006: First Blu-ray players commercially available

In 2006, the first Blu-ray players became commercially available, marking the start of the format's journey to becoming the standard for HD media.

November 2007: Sony releases XEL-1, the first OLED television

In November 2007, Sony released the Sony XEL-1, which was the first OLED television available.

2007: Fine for fixing videotape prices

In 2007, Sony, along with Fuji and Maxell, received a 110 million US dollar fine from the European Commission following a 2002 investigation. The fine was for fixing professional videotape prices between 1999 and 2002. Sony's fine was increased for obstructing the investigation by refusing to answer inquiries and shredding evidence.

2007: Sony discontinues Trinitron televisions in the U.S.

In early 2007, Sony discontinued the last Trinitron-based television set in the U.S., marking the end of Sony's analog television sets and monitors.

July 2009: Sony and Sharp announce joint venture agreement

In July 2009, Sony and Sharp announced that they have agreed to a joint venture agreement for the establishment and operation of Sharp Display Products Corporation.

2009: Introduction of "make.believe" slogan

In 2009, Sony introduced the "make.believe" slogan to unify its global operations and brand image.

2010: Sony discontinues 3.5-inch floppy disks

In 2010, Sony, holding over 70 percent of the market share, decided to discontinue the production of 3.5-inch floppy disks, marking the end of the format.

April 2011: Sony and Sharp amend joint venture agreement

In April 2011, Sony and Sharp amended their joint venture agreement originally executed in July 2009, for the establishment and operation of Sharp Display Products Corporation.

December 2011: Sony sells stake in LCD joint venture with Samsung Electronics

In December 2011, Sony agreed to sell its entire stake in S-LCD, an LCD joint venture with Samsung Electronics, for approximately $940 million as part of its television business restructuring.

March 2012: Sony and Sharp further amend joint venture agreement

On March 28, 2012, Sony and Sharp announced a further amendment to their joint venture agreement, initially established in July 2009 and amended in April 2011, concerning Sharp Display Products Corporation, which aimed to produce and sell large-sized LCD panels and modules.

2012: Sony is third-largest television maker

As of 2012, Sony was the third-largest maker of televisions worldwide, but the business unit had been unprofitable for eight consecutive years.

2012: Kazuo Hirai promoted to President and CEO

In 2012, Kazuo Hirai was promoted to president and CEO, succeeding Howard Stringer, and subsequently introduced the "One Sony" initiative to revitalize the company.

2012: Unveiling of the Crystal LED Display prototype

In 2012, Sony revealed a prototype of an ultrafine RGB LED display called the Crystal LED Display, showcasing its advanced display technology.

2013: Sony demonstrates first 4K OLED television

In 2013, Sony demonstrated the first 4K OLED television, advancing display technology.

2013: Release of Televisions with improved Triluminos technology

In 2013, Sony released a new line of televisions featuring an improved version of Triluminos technology incorporating quantum dots in the backlight system, marking the first commercial use of quantum dots.

February 2014: Sale of VAIO PC division and spinning off TV division

In February 2014, Sony announced the sale of its VAIO PC division to Japan Industrial Partners and spun off its TV division into a separate corporation to improve agility and profitability.

May 2014: Joint ventures with Shanghai Oriental Pearl Group

In May 2014, Sony announced forming two joint ventures with Shanghai Oriental Pearl Group to manufacture and market PlayStation game consoles and associated software in China.

2015: Purchase of Toshiba's image sensor business

In 2015, Sony acquired Toshiba's image sensor business, expanding its capabilities and market share in the image sensor industry.

2015: Sony introduces LDAC audio coding technology

In 2015, Sony introduced LDAC, a proprietary audio coding technology enabling high-resolution audio streaming over Bluetooth at up to 990 kbit/s. Sony also contributed this technology to the Android Open Source Project, starting with Android 8.0 "Oreo", allowing other manufacturers to integrate it into their Android devices.

December 2016: Consideration of restructuring U.S. operations

In December 2016, reports emerged that Sony was considering merging Sony Pictures Entertainment (TV & film business) with Sony Interactive Entertainment (gaming business) to restructure its U.S. operations.

2016: Stopping production of 1/2-inch video tape recorders and players

In 2016, Sony announced it was stopping production of all remaining 1/2-inch video tape recorders and players, including the Digital Betacam format, marking the end of an era for these professional video formats.

2017: Sony launches OLED TVs under the BRAVIA brand

In 2017, Sony launched OLED televisions under the BRAVIA brand, expanding its TV offerings.

2017: Sale of lithium-ion battery business

In 2017, Sony sold its lithium-ion battery business to Murata Manufacturing, marking a divestiture from the battery industry.

2017: Potential Merger Decision

In 2017, Sony was expected to make a final decision on the potential merger of its TV, film, and gaming businesses by the end of its fiscal year in March.

September 2019: LDAC receives Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification

On September 17, 2019, the Japan Audio Society (JAS) certified Sony's LDAC technology with their Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification, marking it as one of the few codecs to achieve this recognition.

2019: Sony launches ELTRES LPWAN standard

In 2019, Sony launched ELTRES, their proprietary low-power wide-area wireless communication (LPWAN) standard.

2019: Merger of mobile, TV, and camera businesses

In 2019, Sony merged its mobile, TV, and camera businesses, streamlining its operations and aiming for better synergy among these divisions.

2019: Sony ranked 13th worldwide for patent applications

In 2019, Sony ranked 13th in the world for the number of patent applications published under the PCT System, with 1,566 applications.

April 2020: Establishment of Sony Electronics Corporation

On 1 April 2020, Sony Electronics Corporation was established as an intermediate holding company to oversee its electronics and IT solutions businesses.

May 2020: Name Change Announcement to Sony Group Corporation

On 19 May 2020, Sony announced that it would change its name to Sony Group Corporation as of 1 April 2021. Sony also announced plans to make Sony Financial Holdings a wholly-owned subsidiary through a takeover bid.

2020: Sony's business segments in 2020

As of 2020, Sony is organized into the following business segments: Game & Network Services (G&NS), Music, Pictures, Electronics Products & Solutions (EP&S), Imaging & Sensing Solutions (I&SS), Financial Services, and Others.

2020: Third largest television manufacturer

As of 2020, Sony was the third-largest television manufacturer in the world by annual sales figures, solidifying its position in the TV market.

2020: Sony publishes 1,793 patent applications

In 2020, Sony published 1,793 patent applications under the PCT System.

April 2021: Name Change to Sony Group Corporation

On 1 April 2021, Sony Corporation was renamed Sony Group Corporation, marking a strategic shift in its corporate structure.

April 2021: Rename to Sony Group Corporation and merger of subsidiaries

On 1 April 2021, Sony Corporation was renamed Sony Group Corporation. On the same day, Sony Mobile Communications Inc. absorbed Sony Electronics Corporation, Sony Imaging Products & Solutions Inc., and Sony Home Entertainment & Sound Products Inc. and changed its trade name to Sony Corporation.

April 2021: Sony Corporation becomes Sony Electronics Corporation

On April 1, 2021, Sony Corporation was renamed Sony Electronics Corporation, representing the electronics business unit of the Sony Group.

2021: Transformation into a holding company

In 2021, Sony transformed into a holding company, transferring the Sony Corporation name to its subsidiary, signifying a structural change in its corporate organization.

2021: Ranked 88th on the Fortune Global 500 list

In 2021, Sony was ranked 88th on the Fortune Global 500 list, demonstrating its global prominence and financial performance.

2021: Sony ranked ninth worldwide for patent applications

In 2021, Sony's annual review of the World Intellectual Property Indicators report ranked Sony ninth in the world for patent applications published under the PCT System.