LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Playstation 2: Japan
built 140 days ago
Sony released the PlayStation 2 console in Japan on March 4, 2000. Within two days of its debut, sales for the PlayStation 2 had reached 980,000 -- ten times the number of original PlayStation units sold during its initial three-day release period in 1994. Upon its first day of introduction in Japan, a catalog of ten new titles were introduced specifically for the PlayStation 2. Software shipments exceeded 1.3 million units during the console's first weekend of release, while DVD software sales in Japan increased between two to four times. On August 1, 2000, five months after the system's release in Japan, Sony announced it had shipped over 3 million units.
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Back in January, Sony announced it had achieved its goal of shipping 2 million PlayStation 3s worldwide. The company achieved the goal several weeks late, when it shipped its 1 millionth unit to the Japanese market. However, many were skeptical of Sony's claims of success, since the figures were only for units shipped to retailers, not sold to consumers.
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UPDATED Sony today announced plans to release the first supported version of its "Linux (for PlayStation 2)," dubbed Release 1.0. A beta Linux kit was made available in Japan last July in response to requests by the Japanese Linux society. After an overwhelming positive response from the community, Sony decided to publicly release and support the development kit. Release 1.0 will go on sale beginning in May for Japanese customers and debut in June for the United States and Europe.
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On September 20, 2007, SCEI launched the PlayStation Store (PC) for the PSP, an online shopping service similar to the PlayStation Store for the Playstation 3. The service was first only available in Japan. It was later launched in Taiwan and Hong Kong on November 21, 2007, and in Europe on November 22, 2007.
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Solectron is completing a deal to buy two Sony plants–one in Japan and one in Taiwan–and it wants to make PlayStation 2 consoles. Solectron's deal with Sony is to make Sony brand audio goods, lithium-ion battery packs, and car navigation devices, but there are some “component issues” that need to be solved before Solectron can start making PS2s as well. Solectron ... makes equipment for Ericcson, Nortel, and Cisco, and is currently acquiring a company that makes computers for Apple.
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On May 8, 2007 Sony Computer Entertainment announced PlayStation Network Cards,[133] a form of electronic money that can be used with the Store. PlayStation Network Tickets, available in units of 1,000, 3,000, 5,000, and 10,000 yen, can be purchased at convenience stores throughout Japan.[134] Each ticket contains a 12 alphanumeric code which can be inputted to the PlayStation Network to place credits in the virtual wallet.[135] The tickets are available through electronic kiosks at 26,000 convenience stores, including Lawsons, Family Mart, Daily Yamazaki, Ministop and Sunkus.[136] They are ... available at 26,000 post office ATM machines, although registration is required first at a special mobile website.[136]
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