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Sony Acquires Belgian Innovator of Range Image Sensor Technology, Softkinetic
Posted On Oct 11 2015
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To put things in context, Sony‘s sensors are selling well because it has very lucrative corporate contracts with smartphone builders like Apple that use Sony‘s sensors, together will DSLR manufacturers like Nikon and Sony’s own cameras as well. The article cited market research that found Sony earns as much as $20 for every iPhone 6 sold.
Sony didn’t announce a price for the SoftKinetic acquisition, but it said the move would not impact its financial results in this fiscal year.
ToF is a technology used for resolving the distance to an object that is used in video gaming by the Xbox One as well as in other applications.
Sony’s devices unit, meanwhile, saw sales increase by just over 35 percent in Q1, “primarily due to a significant increase in sales of image sensors reflecting higher demand for image sensors for mobile products”, according to the company’s June 30 financial report. This new sensor range is known to use a “time-of-flight” feature, which actually determines distance between sensor and a physical object.
We believe the abovementioned buyout is Sony’s strategic step towards strengthening its foothold in the virtual reality domain. SoftKinetic’s technology could allow for natural hand-tracking without the need to constantly grip a controller. The image sensor operations have been among Sony’s fastest growing and most successful businesses in recent years. AAPL, among its customers.
The new business, Sony Semiconductor Solutions, is set to begin operating on April 1, 2016.
Of late, the company has been dedicated towards the profitable markets along with enhancing its core strengths.
Sony is putting an increasing focus on its sensor technologies business, and earlier this week said that it was spinning off part of its devices division into a new business called Sony Semiconductor Solutions. While Jabil Circuit carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Harman global has the same rank as Sony. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.
