1946
- May
Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo K.K. (Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation), also known as Totsuko, established in Nihonbashi, Tokyo with start-up capital of 190,000 yen for the research and manufacture of telecommunications and measuring equipment.
1947
- Feb
Company head office and factory relocated to Shinagawa, Tokyo.
- Oct
Successful commercialization and sales launch of Sony's “power megaphone.”
1949
- Sep
Completion of first magnetic tape recorder prototype.
1950
- Mar
Japan's first magnetite-coated, paper-based recording tape, “Soni-Tape,” launched.
- May
Japan's first magnetic tape recorder, the G-Type, order launched.
1954
- May
Sendai plant established in Tagajo, near Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. (in April 1992 it was renamed Sendai Technology Center.)
- Jul
Announcement of Japan's first PNP alloy-type transistor and germanium diode.
1955
- Feb
Decision made to use SONY logo on Totsuko products.
- Aug
Totsuko listed on the OTC (over-the-counter) market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE).
- Sep
Japan's first transistor radio, the TR-55, launched.
1958
- Jan
Company name changed to Sony Corporation.
- Dec
Sony listed on the TSE.
1959
- Jun
Formal announcement of research results leading to the negative-resistance “Esaki Diode” prototype.
1960
- Feb
Sony Corporation of America (SONAM) established in the United States.
- May
World's first direct-view portable TV, the TV8-301, launched.
- Nov
Atsugi plant established in Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture (renamed Atsugi Technology Center in August 1989).
- Dec
Sony Overseas S.A. established near Zurich, Switzerland.
1961
- Mar
Japan's first all-transistor amp tape recorder,TC-777, launched.
- Jun
Sony became the first Japanese company to offer shares in the United States in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) on the OTC market of the New York Stock Exchange.
1962
- May
The world's smallest and lightest all-transistor TV, TV5-303, launched.
- Nov
Sony Corporation of Hong Kong Ltd. established.
1964
- Aug
Sales launch of the “Sony-O-Matic” TC-357, a tape recorder featuring automatic recording adjustment.
- Sep
Osaki plant established in Shinagawa, Tokyo (renamed Osaki West Technology Center in June 1995).
1965
1966
- Apr
Sony Building in Ginza, Tokyo, opened.
- Nov
Sales launch of Sony's first cassette tape recorder, the “Magazine-matic 100” TC-100.
1968
- Mar
CBS/Sony Records Inc., a 50-50 joint venture with CBS Inc. of the US, established. It was renamed CBS Sony Inc. in August 1973 and CBS/Sony Group Inc. in August 1983. It became a wholly-owned Sony subsidiary in January 1988, and renamed Sony Music Entertainment Inc. in April 1991.
- May
Sony (U.K.) Ltd. Established in the United Kingdom (reorganized as Sony United Kingdom Ltd. In April 1993).
- Oct
“Trinitron” color TV, the KV-1310, launched.
1969
- Sep
Shibaura plant established in Minato, Tokyo (renamed Shibaura Technology Center in August 1989).
- Nov
Sony Shiroishi Semiconductor Inc. established to assemble semiconductor products (in Shiroishi, Miyagi Prefecture).
- Dec
Inazawa Plant (currently Inazawa Technology Center) established to produce cathode-ray tubes (in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture).
1970
- May
Ichinomiya Plant (currently Ichinomiya Technology Center) established to assemble color TVs (in Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture).
- Jun
Sony G.m.b.H. established in Cologne, Germany (renamed Sony Deutschland G.m.b.H in June 1980).
- Sep
Sony shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
1972
- Mar
U-matic video cassette recorder, VO-1700, launched.
- Aug
Operations commenced at color TV assembly plant in San Diego, California.
- Dec
Sony Koda Inc. (currently Koda Technology Center) established to manufacture home-video products (in Kota-cho, Aichi Prefecture).
1973
- Jan
Hispano Sony established in Barcelona, Spain.
- Feb
Sony France S.A. established in Paris, France
- May
Sony receives the first Emmy ever awarded to a Japanese company for developing the Trinitron color TV system.
1974
- Jun
Operations commenced at color TV assembly plant in Bridgend, Wales, in the U.K.
- Aug
Operations commenced at cathode ray tube (CRT) plant in San Diego, the first ever integrated color TV production facility to be established by a Japanese company overseas.
1979
- Jul
Sales launch of the TPS-L2, the first stereo cassette player “Walkman.”
- Aug
Sony Prudential Life Insurance Co. Ltd., a 50-50 joint venture with Prudential Insurance Co. of America, established. It was renamed Sony Pruco Life Insurance Co. Ltd. in September 1987 and Sony Life Insurance Co. Ltd. in April 1991.
1981
- Aug
Technology announcement related to Sony's magnetic video camera based the “Mavica” magnetic recording standard.
1982
1983
- Apr
New “division-based” corporate organization model introduced.
1984
- Apr
High definition video system (HDVS) launched.
- Nov
Portable CD player (later called “Discman”), the D-50, launched.
1986
- Nov
Sony Europe G.m.b.H. established in Cologne, Germany. Operations commenced at Sony France audio and video products assembly and device plant in Colmar, Alsace, France.
1988
- Jan
CBS Records Inc., the records group of CBS, acquired. It was renamed Sony Music Entertainment Inc. in January 1991.
- Sep
Launch of the consumer-use still camera, “Mavica” MVC-C1.
1989
- Jun
Compact and lightweight passport-sized 8mm camcorder, “Handycam” CCD-TR55, launched.
- Nov
Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Inc. acquired. It was renamed Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. in August 1991.
1990
- Dec
Launch of the HD-equipped, 16:9 wide aspect ratio, 36-inch consumer-use television, the KW-3600HD.
1992
- Nov
MD system launched.
1993
- Jul
World's first continuous-wave room-temperature operation of blue semiconductor lasers successfully developed.
- Nov
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. established.
1994
- Apr
New company structure introduced at Sony Corporation.
- Jul
World's first high-brightness, green light-emitting diode successfully developed.
1995
- Sep
“Digital Handycam”, first consumer-use digital video camcorder DCR-VX1000/DCR-VX700,launched.
- Nov
Sony Communication Network Corporation established.
- Dec
Basic specifications of new industry format for high-density optical disc finalized, including new format name, “DVD.”
1997
- Apr
Sony Marketing Co., Ltd. Established.
- May
Development of “Digital Reality Creation,” technology to create highly-realistic 4x picture resolution based on standard television signals, using Sony's exclusive digital signal processing algorithm.
- Jun
Introduction of Corporate Executive Officer System.
- Jul
Home-use PC “VAIO” series launched
- Jul
Flat CRT “WEGA” series launched
- Oct
Sales launch of the world's first broadcast-use HD camcorder, HDW-700.
2000
2001
- Feb
Sony develops world's largest (13 inch) full color organic EL display.
- Apr
Sony Bank established in Japan.
- Apr
Sony EMCS established.
- Oct
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications established.
2002
- Oct
Sony absorbs AIWA by merger.
- Nov
Sales launch of the “CoCoon” channel server CSV-E77.
2003
- Apr
Sales launch of the world's first next-generation high capacity optical disc “Blu-ray Disc” recorder BDZ-S77.
- Jun
First “QUALIA” products launched.
- Jun
Corporate shift to “committee-based” organizational model.
- Oct
“SDR,” a compact bipedal entertainment robot, began activity as Sony group's “corporate ambassador,” under the new nickname “QRIO.”
2004
- Jan
FeliCa Networks, Inc. established.
- Apr
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) becomes wholly owned subsidiary via exchange of shares.
- Apr
Sony Financial Holdings Inc. established.
- May
Sony develops new 4K SXRD high-resolution LCD panel, the industry's first LCD device to meet advanced digital cinema DCI-recommended specifications of 4K (4906H x 2160V) setting the global standard for digital cinema projectors.
- Aug
Sony BMG Music Entertainment established.
- Sep
Development and commercial production of world's first mercury-free button-shaped silver-oxide battery.
- Oct
Sales launch of HDR-FX1, the world's first consumer use digital HD video camera recorder conforming to HDV standard 1080i.
2005
- Apr
Consortium, including Sony, completes acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) of the US.
- Jul
Sales launch of the “Hi Definition Handycam” HDR-HC1, the world's smallest digital HD video camera recorder.
- Sep
Sales launch of new “BRAVIA” brand HDTV-compatible flat-screen TVs.
- Oct
New organizational model introduced, replacing “internal companies” system with one centering on “business groups.”
- Dec
Sony Communication Network Corporation delists as a subsidiary tracking stock. Sony Communication Network Corporation (renamed So-net Entertainment Corporation in Oct. 2006) listed on the Mothers Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
2006
- Jan
World's-first signal-processing circuit technology compatible with "xvYCC" format developed---supporting a far wider gamut for color reproduction.
- Apr
Sony and Samsung reach agreement on manufacturing 8th generation amorphous TFT LCD panels at their joint venture, S-LCD Corporation.
- Jun
World's first Blu-ray Disc drive Notebook PC (VAIO typeA) released.
- Jul
Digital SLR camera α100 (DSLR-A100) released.
2007
- Feb
Sony relocates headquarters to new building called "Sony City."
- Aug
"Bio Battery" which generates electricity from glucose developed.
- Spt
Sound Entertainment Player "Rolly" released.
- Oct
Sony Financial Holdings lists on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
- Dec
Sony establishes in-house recycling of flame-retardant polystyrene.
- Dec
World's first OLED TV released.
2008
- Jan
So-net Entertainment lists on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
- Jan
Sony develops new close proximity wireless transfer technology "Transfer Jet."
- Apr
Sony releases world's smallest full HD " Handycam" HDR-TG1.
- Jul
Sony releases new "BRAVIA" JE1 series (KDL-32JE1), featuring industry's highest level of energy efficiency for 32-inch digital LCD TVs.
- Oct
Sony BMG becomes wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America.
- Oct
Sony releases digital SLR Camera "α900" with 24.81 effective megapixel CMOS image sensor "Exmor"
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