Sony Reader to be released in Russia (officially)

[igorsk]

About time, I'd say.

This was announced at Fotoforum 2011.



Source: http://www.3dnews.ru/editorial/609658/

[DixieGal]

WOW! That's amazing to a kid like me who grew up in the Cold War. CooL!

[Pomtroll]

I think Russia is going to like Sonys IMHO

[elemenoP]

But the strange thing is, they can't keep the Sony Readers in stock in any of the markets that they have right now. They are having big problems with this. So why introduce a new market now?

eP

[porkupan]

Originally Posted by elemenoP

But the strange thing is, they can't keep the Sony Readers in stock in any of the markets that they have right now. They are having big problems with this. So why introduce a new market now?

That sure is very strange.

And if the shortage of the actual readers could somewhat plausibly be explained by the perceived deficit of Pearl screens (although Amazon doesn't appear to be experiencing any of it), but the total absence of covers (both with and without the light) is just absolutely baffling. China on strike?

So, perhaps Sony needs to get its current markets in order before it starts expanding to the new ones...

[Zetmolm]

The explanation that the shortage of Sony readers is because of a deficit of Pearl screens becomes less likely when you realize that Onyx is currently selling Pearl readers on the Russian market, and Onyx seems to have no problems getting them.

[SensualPoet]

But striking that only the PRS-350 and -650 appear to be illustrated. There is no taste to release a connected model. I wonder what the Sony Ereader book store will look like in Russian? Lots of titles?

[Poppaea]

Originally Posted by Pomtroll

I think Russia is going to like Sonys IMHO

Actually they already do like them. Very much indeed.

Russian market research company J'son & Partners Consulting estimates that 440,000 e-reader devices will be sold in Russian in 2010. They claim that in 2007 numbers were in thousands, in 2008 around 60,000, while in 2009, despite the global crisis, the market exploded to 250,000 units. In the first half of 2010 alone 180,000 devices were sold (85K in Q1 and 95K in Q2).
Small internet shops and specialized electronics shops account for more than half of the sales. However, in the last year some big consumer electronics chains started to show interest as well.
The market share by manufacturer is as follows:
1. 40% Pocketbook
2. 29% Sony
3. 12% Lbook
4. 9% ORSiO
5. 5% Explay (TXT.Book)
6. 5% Others

In June, the most popular models went for 8000 to 16500 RUR (approx $250 to $530). The company thinks that in 2011 the prices will fall significantly (to 6000-7000 RUR) due to increased competition between screen makers.

Very interesting numbers, especially considering the fact that Sony does not officially sell readers in Russia. Oh, and I liked the stats so I made a little pie chart

Emphasis added

Here is the full thread

[SensualPoet]

Anyone have an idea of selling price of the PRS-350 or PRS-650 in rubles in Moscow might be? I am thinking maybe 8000 to 12,000 Rubles, depending on local taxes.

[igorsk]

Yandex Market shows 11889 to 15990 for PRS-650 right now. PRS-350 seems to be around 6300-6900

[Zetmolm]

Those statistics about market shares in Russia appear to be somewhat outdated. Onyx claims to have climbed to 2nd position on the "legal" market in 2010, after Pocketbook, with a market share of 15%. The fact that they stress the word "legal" suggests they were still behind Sony.

Source (in Russian)

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

But striking that only the PRS-350 and -650 appear to be illustrated. There is no taste to release a connected model. I wonder what the Sony Ereader book store will look like in Russian? Lots of titles?

The 950 (and the 900 before that) were never released outside the US.

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

But striking that only the PRS-350 and -650 appear to be illustrated. There is no taste to release a connected model. I wonder what the Sony Ereader book store will look like in Russian? Lots of titles?

I'm not sure which Sony Readers are in the picture, but I don't think there's more than one model. The screen sizes are too similar.

[SensualPoet]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

I'm not sure which Sony Readers are in the picture, but I don't think there's more than one model. The screen sizes are too similar.

Good point. Was the PRS-650 ever released in pink? If not, then these must be PRS-350s only. Under 7,000 rubles is a decent price assuming Russia's tax structure is sizable.

[Quexos]

Good for the Russians but what I really want to know is what new models are coming in the near future ? I'd like a 7" model with color e-ink and a processor a little faster. Though I'm very happy with my current device