IPod tops Walkman in Japan

IPod tops Walkman in Japan
Bloomberg
Apple Inc.'s iPod recaptured the top share of Japan's digital music player market from Sony Corp.'s Walkman last week, helped by new models, according to Tokyo-based electronics research firm BCN Inc.

Apple's market share climbed to 58 percent in the week ended Sunday, exceeding Sony's 32.1 percent, the researcher said Tuesday. Sony had 47.4 percent the previous week, compared with Apple's 37.1 percent, BCN said.

Apple last Wednesday introduced a new lineup of iPods, adding a video camera, FM radio and a pedometer to the Nano. The company also cut the U.S. prices of the 8-gigabyte iPod Touch to $199 and priced a 32-gigabyte model at $299, while a 64-gigabyte version will sell at $399.

Sony fell 0.2 percent to close at ¥2,420 on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, while the Nikkei 225 stock average added 0.2 percent. The stock has gained 26 percent this year. Apple closed 0.9 percent higher at $173.72 on the Nasdaq on Monday.

Sony, whose Walkman cassette players pioneered the portable-music industry in the late 1970s, captured the top share of Japan's market in the week ended Aug. 30 for the first time in four years, BCN said Sept. 2. Sony had 43 percent of the market in the period, compared with Apple's 42.1 percent, the researcher said.