1950

Introduces Soni-Tape KA Series, Japan's first practical magnetic recording
tape using a paper-based film.

1960

Akio Morita
establishes Sony's first major overseas operationon 514 Broadway in New
York City with a capital investment of $500,000.

Sony introduces the world's first fully transistorized, portable B&W
TV in Japan.

1961

Makes a public offering of 2 million shares of Sony common stock in
the form of ADRs. (American Depository Receipts in the United States.)
First stock offering by Japanese company in the United States.

Markets the world's first all-transistor television in America. Sponsors and demonstrates the world's smallest and lightest videotape
recorder (model PV-1000), designed for the technological, industrial,
educational, medical, sports and arts markets.

1965

Markets
world's first home-use videotape recorder, the CV-2000. Introduces the world's first transistor condenser microphone, the C-38.
Markets V30E (20-minute recording capability), the world's first 1/2-inch
open-reel videotape, for the all-transistor CV-2000 home videotape recorder.

1967

Introduces the
world's first portable VTR is introduced, the DV-2400.

1968

Markets
the world's first integrated circuit radio, model ICR-100. It weighs approximately
3 ounces and is one-half the size of a pack of cigarettes.

Announces a revolutionary concept in color TV with the Trinitron KV-1310.
The set has a brighter picture because it uses a system invented by Sony
and not the conventional "shadow mask" color tube.

1971

Markets KC-60,
the world's first videocassette tape for U-matic VTRs.

1972

Sony is
the first Japanese company to open a U.S. plant to manufacture Trinitron
televisions in San Diego, CA.

1973

The National
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announces awards Sony an Emmy
for the development of the Trinitron television. It is the first time
an Emmy had been given for a product.

Markets DUAD, the world's first dual-coated ferrichrome audio cassette
tape.

1974

Donates
sixteen technological firsts to the Smithsonian Institute including the
first Trinitron television.

1975

Introduces
Betamax VCR, world's first home-use videocassette recorder using 1/2-inch
tape.

Demonstrates the world's first four-channel cassette tape recorder. The
BM-144 allows the user to switch back and forth on single standard cassette
from four different recordings

1978

Introduces
the world's smallest tape recorder for standard cassettes, the TCM-600.


Markets the MC-90, the world's first metal magnetic particle micro cassette
enabling a maximum of three hours recording and playback.

1979

Introduces
magnetic recording tape.

CBS Records International is the first major record company headquarted
in the United States to take delivery of Sony's new PCM-1600 digital audio
processor and editing equipment. Sells more than $4 million in broadcast video equipment to Compact Video
Systems, Inc. of Burbank, CA, including BVH-500 portable one-inch VTR.
CVS' first equipment user is the fledgling cable network, ESPN. WQXR conducts the first digital source radio broadcast using Sony's PCM-1600
digital audio processor.

Introduces the Walkman TPS-L2 personal stereo, changing the way the American
public listens to music.

1980

Markets
the world's first commercial color video camera to utilize a completely
solid state image sensor called a charge-coupled-device (CCD). It is also
the smallest camera (weighing only 2.8 pounds) on the market.

Markets the KV-4000, the smallest Trinitron color TV in the world with
a 3.7 inch diagonal picture.

Sony Consumer Products Company unveils its first line of car stereo equipment.


Announces the first prototype of the "Video Movie," a single-unit
compact color video camera-cassette recorder system, and proposed a common
format.

1981

Introduces
first compact Walkman personal stereo (model WM-2). Sony, Philips and Polygram announce the impending introduction of a compact
disc digital audio system to the world market within two years.

Video magazine publishes its first charter members of the Video Hall of
Fame. A Morita is selected along with such media giants as Edward R. Murrow
and William S. Paley. The premiere issue of Technology magazine honors Akio Morita for, "his
brilliance in creating and marketing superb electronic gadgets that combine
irresistible convenience and practicality."

Introduces first 3.5-inch micro floppy disk drive.

1982

Introduces
first recording Walkman personal stereo.

Introduces first Walkman personal stereo with a built-in tuner. Sony releases Dicatvision KV-4100, the world's first television and dictating
machine in one.

Unveils the Watchman personal TV, the personal pocket-sized television.
The FD-210 is the world's smallest, lightest and flattest television.


Introduces first water-resistant Sports Walkman personal stereo. Markets the D-1/2, the world's first DASH format digital audio tape, for
professional use.

Markets the Metal-ES, the world's first high-performance audio metal tape
cassette featuring a high precision shell with a wide transparent window.

1984

Establishes
world's first one-piece compact disc players. These portable CD players
are the first in a line of products aimed at use in the family car.

Introduces the first multi-frequency monitor.

1987

Introduces
My First Sony product line for children.

The first Walkman personal stereo enters the Smithsonian Institution.


Markets the D-1 Series video cassettes, the first in the world for 4:2:2
format component digital VTRs.

1988

Marketed
the D-2 Series metal video cassettes, the first in the world for use in
D-2 format composite digital VTRs.

Sony joins its optical and magnetic recording technologies to create the
world's first 5.25" magneto optical disk, a rewritable medium in
a handy cartridge format.

1989

CCD-V9 camcorder
goes on Atlantis Space Shuttle mission.

The high picture quality delivered by the Hi8 Metal-E metal evaporated
8mm video cassette tape, the first of its kind in the world, creates a
sensation.

Markets Hi-8 Metal P metal particle 8mm video cassette tape, the first
in the world to use vertical recording technology.

Marketed HD-1D 1-inch open reel tape, the first metal video tape in the
world for use in digital HDVS VTRs.

1990

Introduces
the first writable CD.

Introduces first Digital Audio Tape (DAT) Walkman personal stereo.

Sony receives an Emmy for metal tape technology. This is the first time
the award is presented for metal tape technology.

Sony introduces V videotape.

1991

Sony develops
the MiniDisc (MD), a revolutionary, ultra compact optical disk.

Sony opens its first outlet store in Kenosha, WA.

1992

The first
rear-projection television units roll off the line at Sony's Mount Pleasant,
PA, manufacturing center.

Sony announces the technology for its first Multimedia CD-ROM Player.


Sony conducts its first successful experiment with a blue laser diode.


Sony joins the Environmental Protection Agency's Green Lights Program
(U.S.).

1993

Sony's Write
Once Optical Products Division launches its first national advertising
campaign.

Sony introduces the recording industry's first MD Cart player and recorder/player.Sony Style magazine debuts.
Sony introduces its first S-VHS Hi-Fi VCR to offer both VCR Plus+ Timer
Programming and Cable Box Control.Introduces first Handycam camcorder with LCD monitor.
Introduces first 180-minute Hi-8 Metal Evaporated videotape. Sony introduces Destiny, the company's first PC-based linear editing system.

1994

Introduces
Magic Link Personal Communicator.

Introduces the world's first MD changers for cars.

Announces MD-Data format.

Announces the world's first MD Data portable drive.

Sony introduces its first 5.25-inch multifunction (rewritable and write-once)
magneto optical jukebox.

Sony's Data Media SD1 videotape is used for data collection and storage
during two NASA space missions.

Introduces non-linear upgrade for Destiny.

1995

Sony Online
debuts.

Introduces the world's first MD business recorder.

Introduces world's first 16:9 Ratio Computer Monitor.

Introduces world's highest capacity (15Gb) 12-inch write-once drive and
media announced.

Introduces world's highest performing 5.25-inch magneto optical drive. Sony Introduces three, Sony brand DSS (Digital Satellite System) Systems.


Sony Electronics joins the EPA's Energy Star Buildings program. Launches the Sony Playstation videogame system in the U.S.

1996

Sony helps
develop Digital Video Disc, the next-generation optical disc.

Introduces the PC by Sony models PCV-70 and PCV-90. Introduces the WebTVTM Internet terminal.

Introduces Betacam SX(R) digital broadcast format designed to be the ultimate
replacement for Sony's defacto standard. Introduces DVCAMTM format for corporate and industrial use.
Sony unveils its first ever Voice FileTM IC Chip Recorder the ICD-50.


Sony introduces the world's smallest digital video camcorder, the DCR-PC7,
with a LCD screen.

Sony introduces the world's lightest Discman(R) portable CD player the
D-777.

Sony Corporation celebrates its 50th anniversary.

1997

Introduces
the first digital video cassette recorder available in the U.S. the DHR-1000.


Introduces world's first digitally powered subwoofer for car audio, the
XS-TL1. Sony launches "Digital Dream" family of CDMA handsets including
the industry's first dual band dual mode PCS/cellular phone.

Sony announces its first line of multimedia notebook computers for the
U.S. market, the PCG-705C and PCG-707C. Sony and Fujifilm announce they have jointly developed HiFD a new 3.5-inch
floppy disc system with a 200 megabyte (both sides) storage capacity.Introduces compact disc rewritable (CD-RW) media, bringing writing, erasing
and rewriting capabilities to CD technology.

Introduces new car stereo speaker cone technology, Highly Oriented Polyolefine
(HOP).

Introduces the industry's smallest and lightest phone the CM-Z100 PCS
phone.

Introduces GlasstronTM, PLM-100, a wearable personal LCD monitor.

Announces with Hewlett Packard, Phillips Electronics NV, Mitsubishi Chemical
Corp., the format specifications for phase-change rewritable - a 120mm
disc formed to be read easily by future DVD-ROM drives to be known as
DVD+RW drives.

Sony and Phillips Electronics jointly announces their intention to develop
a next generation music carrier based on Direct Stream DigitalTM (DSDTM),
a new high resolution, digital encoding system that allows music recording
of unprecedented quality. Both agree to provide hybrid discs which will
include a standard density Compact Disc layer in addition to a new high
density DSD layer for use in Super Audio CD players.

Sony introduces floppy disk-based digital still camera the Digital Mavica(R),
the MVC-FD5 and the MVC-FD7, which allows users to store their images
onto a standard 3.5-inch floppy disk.

1998

Sony unveils the first DVD Discman® portable disc player - the world's smallest and lightest.


Introduces the first DV Video Walkman, which offers playback, dubbing & basic editing capabilities.

Introduces the Ruvi (CCD-CR1); the world's smallest camcorder.

Introduces floppy disk Digital Mavica cameras MVC-FD91 and MVC-FD81 with XGA resolution and MPEG "movie mode".

Announces availability of DVP-C600D, the world's first five-disc CD/DVD video carousel changer.

With the use of Sony's HDTV receiver (KW-34HD1), the first live news of John Glenn's
Historic return to space was broadcasted by WRAL-HD in Raleigh, N.C.


The 34-inch FD Trinitron® Wega[tm] (model KW-34HD1), the first direct-view, high-definition television from Sony hit dealers' shelves.

CBS broadcasts the first NFL game in HDTV format with the use of Sony high definition production equipment.

Sony is first to introduce multi-colored MDs in the U.S. with its MiniDisc color collection.

Sony introduces Memory Stick, an IC (integrated circuit) digital storage media.

Launches ImageStation.com, a quality service to help Sony digital camera owners get the most from their digital images.

1999

Sony introduces the MZ-R55CG, the smallest portable MiniDisc recorder player.

Using Sony's high definition broadcast equipment, KOMO 4 News became the first in the world to broadcast daily local news in HDTV.

Introduces the first virtual Dolby® Digital headphone system - the MDR-DS5000.

Introduces the new Digital Mavica[tm] camera with 1.3 million pixels (MVC-FD88).

Launches i.LINK (IEEE1394) LSI incorporating 5C Digital Content Protection Technology.

Sony, Philips and Sun Microsystems announced plans to collaborate in connecting the Home Audio/Video interoperability architecture with Sun's Jini[tm] technology.
Sony and Philips held the debut of Super Audio Compact Disc (SACD) in the United States, introducing SCD-1.
Sony receives two Emmy awards. One was presented to Charlie Steinberg for lifetime achievement. The other was for the development of Sony's HDCAM® high definition VTR.

Introduces 65-inch big screen, high definition rear-projection television.

Introduces Digital8 camcorders, allowing digital recording on a standard 8mm or Hi8 tape.

Sony, Apple, Compaq, Matsushita (Panasonic), Royal Phillips and Toshiba announce plans to create a joint licensing program to promote industry-wide adoption of IEEE1394.


Sony receives the Home Electronics Partner of the Year Award from the Environmental Protection Agency.

2000

NBC Chooses Sony's digital broadband equipment for their control rooms and playback stations.

Introduces Internet-capable videoconferencing system, providing the industry's first wireless document imaging.

Sony successfully produces the first live HDTV newscast via the Internet to a Seattle station.

Sony's HDW-F900 Camcorder with digital 24-frame progressive high definition technology was used to shoot Star Wars: Episode II.

Introduces Fingerprint Identification System, the FIU-700, for secure Internet transactions.

Introduces the CLIE[tm] handheld device, which integrates entertainment and information and features a Palm-based operating system.

Introduces the e-commerce website, SonyStyle.com.

Sony, the State of Minnesota and Waste Management Inc. partner to kick-off an electronics recycling program, making Sony the first US manufacturer to take part in such an initiative.

Introduces the eMarker[tm] device which enables users to learn the title and artist of a particular song with the touch of a button.

Introduces the MD Record, an in-dashboard unit that allows users to record on MiniDisc in the car.

Sony and Ford Motor Company team up to create Sony Limited Edition Ford Focus models which feature the XPLOD sound system.


Sony adds first-ever skip-prevention technology to a new line of CD Walkman® portable CD players.


Introduces Musiclub, a Web music portal.


Sony announces the availability of TiVo Personal TV[tm] Service on the Sony Digital Network Recorder[tm] (model SVR-2000).

Introduces the world's first CD-R based digital still camera, the Mavica® MVC-CD1000.

2001

Introduces the VAIO® Slimtop[tm] Pen Tablet PC, model PCV-LX900, the first ever pen based desktop computing device.
Introduces two additions to the Trinitron® WEGA® television family: a 40-inch set featuring the industry's largest CRT, and the futuristic 50-inch Grand Wega television, which uses rear projection LCD technology.

Introduces the AV/IT gateway device, a wireless LCD monitor that enables users to watch TV, play a DVD, surf the Internet or answer an email from anywhere in the home.

Introduces the worlds first battery-operated CD-R/RW writer, the CRX10U-A2 Digital Relay Drive.

Introduces e-Villa[tm] Network Entertainment Center, featuring a portrait-oriented FD Trinitron display keyboard, mouse and ISP that enables instant access to the Internet.