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 November 2006
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: November 20, 2006
List of materials
Documents attached hereto:
i) Press release announcing NXP Semiconductors and Sony plan joint venture for
contactless IC business
NXP Semiconductors and Sony plan joint venture for contactless IC
business
Creators of Near Field Communication technology team up to develop secure chips
for contactless transactions
Eindhoven, The Netherlands and Tokyo, Japan, November 20, 2006 - NXP
Semiconductors, formerly Philips Semiconductors, and Sony Corporation have
signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish by mid-year 2007 a joint
venture (JV) that will drive global adoption of contactless smart card
applications in mobile phones. The anticipated JV will plan, develop, produce
and market a secure chip that will include both MIFARE(R) and FeliCa TM
operating systems and applications, as well as other contactless card operating
systems and applications.
By combining this secure chip with an NFC chip a universal contactless IC
platform can be created for mobile phones. As a result, mobile device
manufacturers and service providers around the world will be able to design
products and services which are compatible with the different contactless IC
protocols and operating systems that are already deployed in different
countries. Therefore consumers will be able to enjoy multiple applications such
as payment and transport ticketing from various service providers on one device.
Marc de Jong, Executive Vice President and General Manager, NXP Semiconductors
said: "This joint venture signals the evolution of interoperable mobile
services, regardless of technology platform or geography. Combining MIFARE and
FeliCa contactless technologies in a single chip opens a vast array of
opportunities for consumers using the technologies, as well as for developers
creating new applications for global markets. Soon service providers will be
able to roll out great new services to end users on a global scale, ensuring a
broad range of offerings to keep customers happy wherever they are."
Mr. Hiromasa Otsuka, Corporate Executive and SVP, Sony Corporation commented:
"With FeliCa, Sony has established a contactless IC business model whereby
mobile phone wallet services are deployed in multi-application, multi-handset
and multi-carrier modes. The new JV will introduce customers around the world to
a new lifestyle where simply touching a terminal with a mobile phone gives
access to a wide range of services. And it will contribute to Sony's vision of a
network consumer electronics entertainment world."
NFC is a combination of contactless identification and interconnection
technology that enables wireless short-range communication between mobile
devices, consumer electronics, PCs and smart objects. NFC has proven popular in
trials around the world. Its interoperability with MIFARE, FeliCa and ISO14443
infrastructures promises to make mobile phones become wallets and transport
tickets.
MIFARE is the most widely installed contactless smart card technology in the
world with about 1.2 billion smart card chips and more than seven million reader
modules sold. Current shipments of FeliCa ICs stand at 170 million units and of
these 30 million are mobile FeliCa chips for use in mobile phones in Japan. Sony
is creating a unique business model for the use of contactless IC for mobile
phones. NXP and Sony will individually offer chips and applications based on
their respective technology platforms MIFARE and FeliCa, while both companies
will continue to develop NFC technologies jointly.
About NXP
NXP is a top 10 semiconductor company founded by Philips more than 50 years ago.
Headquartered in Europe, the company has 37,000 employees working in 20
countries across the world. NXP creates semiconductors, system solutions and
software that deliver better sensory experiences in mobile phones, personal
media players, TVs, set-top boxes, identification applications, cars and a wide
range of other electronic devices. News from NXP is located at www.NXP.com.
About Sony Corporation
Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game,
communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer
and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and
on-line businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading personal
broadband entertainment company in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual
sales of approximately $63 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006.
Sony Global Web Site: http://www.sony.net/
Forward-looking Statements
This release may contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to the
financial condition, results of operations and business of NXP and certain plans
and objectives of NXP with respect to these items. By their nature,
forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to
events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future and there are
many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
Mifare is a registered trademark of NXP Semiconductors
FeliCa is a trademark of Sony Corporation
Other trademarks are property of their respective owners