SONY NOTEBOOK PCs MEAN BUSINESS
Launch of VAIO Professional Program Brings Products, Services to SMB Market
SAN DIEGO, July 6, 2004 _ For small to medium businesses (SMB) that need mobility, connectivity and AV attributes as part of their PC solutions, Sony Electronics today announced the VAIO ® Professional program, a new branding initiative aimed at the commercial market.
Among the benefits of the VAIO Professional initiative are Sony's lines of configurable notebook products sold exclusively through both reseller and direct business-to-business channels. Although VAIO Professional products will still be sold under the VAIO brand, they will differ from Sony's consumer retail PC offerings in terms of lifecycle, software options and other features.
"Smaller businesses must make the most of every minute," said Mike Abary, general manager of VAIO product marketing for Sony Electronics' IT Products Division. "They understand the benefits of VAIO PCs add up to increased productivity, whether they work in a traditional office, home office or on the road. Our programs and services are available exclusively to the commercial segment, making it easy for our customers to purchase products and maintain their investment."
VAIO Professional notebooks will be standardized on the Microsoft ® Windows ® XP Professional operating system and will be available with a number of image load variations -- from a basic core operating system up to an image integrating a full complement of Sony exclusive multimedia and third-party applications. Business users can tailor software and hardware to suit their specific requirements with a plethora of build-to-order (BTO) and configure-to-order (CTO) options.
The Right Products for the Right Time
Long lifecycles will also distinguish VAIO Professional products. Shelf lives of commercial models will be expanded beyond the typical retail cycle of 16 weeks to six months, one year and beyond. These will be supported by Sony's tailored limited warranty and service offerings, including optional three-year limited warranties and priority on-site service
Initial VAIO Professional products consist of the A-Series and S-Series notebooks. The full-sized A-Series is currently available in 17-inch and 15-inch widescreen varieties. The latest model in the series, the VGN-A130, will feature a 15-inch standard screen and will be available later this month exclusively through commercial channels.
The S-Series is an ultra-portable option for mobile workers with a 13.3-inch widescreen display and a traveling weight of just around 4 pounds. Future offerings will include new platforms designed for and made exclusively available through business outlets.
VAIO Professional equipment and services are offered immediately through value-added resellers, direct market resellers and through Sony's direct SMB portal at www.sonystyle.com.
Editor's Note: Sony Electronics' Information Technology Products Division (ITPD) markets VAIO ® notebook and desktop computers, as well as branded storage products. For additional information about Sony computer products, consumers can call (888) 315-SONY, or visit Sony's web site at: www.sony.com/vaio. For complete specifications and digital images, members of the news media are invited to visit Sony Electronics' news and information web site at www.sony.com/news.
