Apple buying Sony will be the Unforgettable News ...

[Apple OC]

The more I think about this Unforgettable News ... I believe it will be ... That Apple has bought into Sony.

The reasons are ... Apple/Sony TV, Apple/Sony PlayStation, The discontinued production of the Sony Walkman (why would Sony bow out of the Personal Music player market? ... when they started it with the iconic Walkman)

there were rumors not long ago about Sony and Google working together ... Apple could crush that from happening with a hostile move on Sony.

The fact that neither Apple nor Sony would respond to the rumor that cropped up last month (however Sony's stock did jump on the rumor)

If this does happen? ... then yes, it will be unforgettable as Sony is a proven winner and finally the old saying ... where there is smoke there is fire.

Go ahead ... let the bashing begin ... it is just something I see as possible and lives up to ... "A day we will never forget"

 

[dmr727]

What? It's just gonna be a Beatles thing.

 

[Bernard SG]

I highly doubt a hostile attempt would succeed.
If Apple buys Sony, it will be on mutually agreed terms.

 

[Apple OC]

I highly doubt a hostile attempt would succeed.
If Apple buys Sony, it will be on mutually agreed terms.

one of the rumors was that it would take an overpayment to get Sony

 

[roadbloc]

Lol. No.

 

[BigQid]

I think it would be good for Apple. Apple is known as the world's greatest manufacturer. I'm sure being associated with Apple would juice their sales and potentially help them crush the competition. We could see better products, better integration, and a leaner, meaner Sony. If Apple doesn't Google should.

 

[keaide]

Too much hype... Apple marketing at it's best... but I guess that's what the fans love... I don't expect anything *really* spectacular and for sure nothing life-changing... Anticipation is the greatest pleasure...

 

[maflynn]

Odds of apple buying sony are low, odds of apple surprising the world with the news of buying sony is zero.

While I do think that their is synergy from their product lines if apple/sony were to combine, you'll also need to see how organizationally it would work and corporate culture. From those perspectives, I don't think its as a good fit.

Just look at the HP, Compaq merger. On paper, it seemed to make sense, but going through the merger (I had friends who worked at compaq), it was anything but successful. Even now, the full benefits of a merged HP/Compaq are not realized.

I think the worst kept secret is that it will be that the beatles have finally arrived on itunes.

 

[OllyW]

Ther is a Beatles link.

Sony own at least 50% of the publishing rights to most of the Beatles songs.

 

[bartelby]

Ther is a Beatles link.

Sony own at least 50% of the publishing rights to most of the Beatles songs.

And 4 clock faces, 4 letters in sony.
and the last clock is for Tokyo!

 

[KeriJane]

So is that going to be "Sapple" or "Macony"?

Love that pic with the Sony/Apple logo.

That's an interesting theory. Sony seems to have been floundering a bit in the States lately with nothing special to offer other than the PS3. If they do have something special other than their reputation, well I'm sorry I missed it. I passed on their TV sets recently because, well, other ones had better pictures! From the company known for premium TV for years, that's a sad thing to see.

This could be a good way for Apple to get into the camera, video and gaming markets. Why they would want to do so is another story, but it's possible.

Did someone say Beatles are on iTunes?
BRB!

Have Fun,
Keri

PS. Yay!!! There's Beatles in the iTunes!

 

[gkarris]

First Nintendo, now Sony...

Stop already with the

"Apple buying ___________ (insert major electronics firm here)"

 

[Melrose]

Apple will not buy Sony.

The Beatles announcement was lame.

Why is there still discussion?

 

[shingi70]

So is that going to be "Sapple" or "Macony"?

Love that pic with the Sony/Apple logo.

That's an interesting theory. Sony seems to have been floundering a bit in the States lately with nothing special to offer other than the PS3. If they do have something special other than their reputation, well I'm sorry I missed it. I passed on their TV sets recently because, well, other ones had better pictures! From the company known for premium TV for years, that's a sad thing to see.

This could be a good way for Apple to get into the camera, video and gaming markets. Why they would want to do so is another story, but it's possible.

Did someone say Beatles are on iTunes?
BRB!

Have Fun,
Keri

PS. Yay!!! There's Beatles in the iTunes!

I agree yay for itunes.

But i'd disagree. I think that the sony alpha camera system is pretty cool ( not cool enough to make me buy it though.)

 

[Stella]

It won't happen. Sony carries too much baggage that Apple don't need.

 

[RawBert]

Apple will soon buy the United States. Then the Americas. Then... THE WORLD.

 

[roadbloc]

Apple will soon buy the United States. Then the Americas. Then... THE WORLD.

EU trading laws will have stopped them before it gets to that. Literally nothing can get past them.

 

[KeriJane]

Apple will soon buy the United States. Then the Americas. Then... THE WORLD.

You mean.... Apple is a division of VIRTUCON?

AHHHHHH!!!!! Halp! Call Austin Powers!


"One Hundred Billion Dollars"

The DIET COKE of Evil,
Keri

 

[ggg05a]

The undisputed facts are -

Investors want a return on investment. With Apple sitting on the $51 Billion and interest rates being in the toilet, there is no way Apple's investors are sitting on that much cash with the intent to just sit on it. They MUST acquire a large company (Billion +) to satisfy investor expectations. Having that much cash in the bank earning less than 2% is simply unacceptable. With Jobs' arbitrary refusal to Given that I predict Apple to brach out into an industry, it would be cheaper to "buy into" rather than establish a presence on their own.

Speculation -

A) Sony/Nintendo. Apple wants a piece of the video game market . . . badly. Their ability to tap into this market with iPod/iPad games has been a major source, and will continue to be a major source of revenue from AppStore sales. Apple has realize that there is still lots of money in this market, but sadly not with a keyboard and mouse, but rather with a controller. Apple has no plans, and there are currently no rumors in the rumor mill about Apple building a console, and their closest competitor is the Apple TV, which doesn't compete with the 360 or PS3. The market is already over saturated, and Sony, with a market cap of around $40 Billion, is an acquisition Apple could make tomorrow, and pay for the whole thing in cash. Sony has been poorly managed for a decade now.

B) Comcast. With over 27 million subscribers this would be a great means of establishing a contract based semi-consistent revue stream from the market. This would also be a great way of getting iTV sales from 250,000 - 500,000 annually to tens of millions. With a market cap, being similar to that of Sony, again Apple could pay for this out of pocket.

Personally, I would imagine a Sony acquisition. The company has great IP, and a fantastic brand name behind it. If Apple doesn't pick them up, expect Google to. I expect an acquisition Q3 of 2011.

 

[0098386]

The undisputed facts are -

Investors want a return on investment. With Apple sitting on the $51 Billion and interest rates being in the toilet, there is no way Apple's investors are sitting on that much cash with the intent to just sit on it. They MUST acquire a large company (Billion +) to satisfy investor expectations. Having that much cash in the bank earning less than 2% is simply unacceptable. With Jobs' arbitrary refusal to Given that I predict Apple to brach out into an industry, it would be cheaper to "buy into" rather than establish a presence on their own.

Speculation -

A) Sony/Nintendo. Apple wants a piece of the video game market . . . badly. Their ability to tap into this market with iPod/iPad games has been a major source, and will continue to be a major source of revenue from AppStore sales. Apple has realize that there is still lots of money in this market, but sadly not with a keyboard and mouse, but rather with a controller. Apple has no plans, and there are currently no rumors in the rumor mill about Apple building a console, and their closest competitor is the Apple TV, which doesn't compete with the 360 or PS3. The market is already over saturated, and Sony, with a market cap of around $40 Billion, is an acquisition Apple could make tomorrow, and pay for the whole thing in cash. Sony has been poorly managed for a decade now.

B) Comcast. With over 27 million subscribers this would be a great means of establishing a contract based semi-consistent revue stream from the market. This would also be a great way of getting iTV sales from 250,000 - 500,000 annually to tens of millions. With a market cap, being similar to that of Sony, again Apple could pay for this out of pocket.

Personally, I would imagine a Sony acquisition. The company has great IP, and a fantastic brand name behind it. If Apple doesn't pick them up, expect Google to. I expect an acquisition Q3 of 2011.

Funny words.
A- Nintendo are one of the richest companies (or most profitable, one of those accolade titles) in Japan. They're doing great on their own. Sony also produce way more than just consoles. TV's, bluray, lots of things Apple don't bother with.

B- Limited market.

 

[gnasher729]

Investors want a return on investment. With Apple sitting on the $51 Billion and interest rates being in the toilet, there is no way Apple's investors are sitting on that much cash with the intent to just sit on it. They MUST acquire a large company (Billion +) to satisfy investor expectations. Having that much cash in the bank earning less than 2% is simply unacceptable. With Jobs' arbitrary refusal to Given that I predict Apple to brach out into an industry, it would be cheaper to "buy into" rather than establish a presence on their own.

Well, a man who I respect an awful lot, even though he wasn't a tenth as successful as Steve Jobs (but not _that_ far away from a tenth as successful) told me: "If you have a few hundred million dollars in the bank, and all the analysts _demand_ that you _have_ to spend that money somehow, I can tell you that the bank is a _very good place_ for your money. "

And if you think that Apple and Steve Jobs give a **** what investors are thinking, you have another think coming. They have proven over the last ten years that they know better than anyone else how to make money.

It won't happen. Sony carries too much baggage that Apple don't need.

A more thorough analysis here: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/31/apple_buying_sony/

Headline: "Apple to buy Sony? Good one!"

 

[ggg05a]

Funny words.
A- Nintendo are one of the richest companies (or most profitable, one of those accolade titles) in Japan. They're doing great on their own. Sony also produce way more than just consoles. TV's, bluray, lots of things Apple don't bother with.

I guarantee you Apple wants into the Console market. No way in hell Sony would sell off the Playstation alone. Thus the only way Apple could get to the PS3, is to acquire the whole thing, and if they truly didn't want to bother with it, sell off the other industries, I suspect however that Apple wouldn't mind getting into the home theater market. The only industry I could see Apple shutting down, or subsequently selling off would be the Car Audio side to Sony, which would be fine as the majority of their stuff right now is rebadged JVC equipment.

B- Limited market.

Comcast is in 34 of the 50 states, it is the largest cable provider in the United States. Limited market, I think not. The only plausible argument against this the the only acquisition Apple would be willing to make would be a worldwide acquisition. DirecTV or Dish are other possibilities.

Apple is not grossing such a stock pile of cash just to stare at it. There is logic behind the madness. Some major Fortune 500 will get gobbled up Apple, in a multi-billion dollar acquisition. Either that or they will buy their own country. (sarcasm) To do otherwise is foolish, and a complete waste of the opportunity cost that money could be used for on the open market. Who do you suppose will get bought out?

 

[0098386]

Comcast is in 34 of the 50 states, it is the largest cable provider in the United States. Limited market, I think not. The only plausible argument against this the the only acquisition Apple would be willing to make would be a worldwide acquisition. DirecTV or Dish are other possibilities.

A cable company that operate in only 34 states in one country? Yes. That is mighty limited.

Would they remain US-only? Would they provide that same service elsewhere in the world only to have locals avoid the service because we already have better connections?

 

[ggg05a]

A cable company that operate in only 34 states in one country? Yes. That is mighty limited.

Out of that whole post that's all you can say?

Did I forget to mention it is the largest cable company in the United States, and reaches more eyes than any other media company in the US?

 

[rdowns]

The undisputed facts are -

Facts, huh?

Investors want a return on investment. With Apple sitting on the $51 Billion and interest rates being in the toilet, there is no way Apple's investors are sitting on that much cash with the intent to just sit on it. They MUST acquire a large company (Billion +) to satisfy investor expectations. Having that much cash in the bank earning less than 2% is simply unacceptable. With Jobs' arbitrary refusal to Given that I predict Apple to brach out into an industry, it would be cheaper to "buy into" rather than establish a presence on their own.

They must do nothing. This cash and short term investments (you left the latter part out) have been acquired over many years, many years of 100+% returns on the stock. Long term AAPL investors, like me, have made piles of cash. Is $51 billion somehow the tipping point for them MUST doing something?

Speculation -

A) Sony/Nintendo. Apple wants a piece of the video game market . . . badly. Their ability to tap into this market with iPod/iPad games has been a major source, and will continue to be a major source of revenue from AppStore sales. Apple has realize that there is still lots of money in this market, but sadly not with a keyboard and mouse, but rather with a controller. Apple has no plans, and there are currently no rumors in the rumor mill about Apple building a console, and their closest competitor is the Apple TV, which doesn't compete with the 360 or PS3. The market is already over saturated, and Sony, with a market cap of around $40 Billion, is an acquisition Apple could make tomorrow, and pay for the whole thing in cash. Sony has been poorly managed for a decade now.

Go back and take a look at Apple's acquisitions over the years. NeXT at $400 million is the largest.

Why would Apple want Sony. Way, way too much baggage there. Same for Nintendo especially if you follow your premise of them needing a controller. Something tells me the company that brought the magic mouse and trackpad to market can do a controller if needed.

B) Comcast. With over 27 million subscribers this would be a great means of establishing a contract based semi-consistent revue stream from the market. This would also be a great way of getting iTV sales from 250,000 - 500,000 annually to tens of millions. With a market cap, being similar to that of Sony, again Apple could pay for this out of pocket.

Personally, I would imagine a Sony acquisition. The company has great IP, and a fantastic brand name behind it. If Apple doesn't pick them up, expect Google to. I expect an acquisition Q3 of 2011.

Now you have Google buying Sony and you expect to be taken seriously?