• May 21, 2010

Sony Corporation and Google Inc. are hoping for convergence via partnership on Google's open-source Android OS platform for the home, mobile and personal product categories.

Sony says the key is Android's open-source platform, and Google gets Sony consumer-electronics hardware to house Android OS.

The first release will be "Sony Internet TV," incorporating "Google TV," which allows consumers to search and access Web content from their TV. The product launches in the U.S. this fall with both stand-alone TV model and set top box-type unit incorporating a Blu-ray Disc drive.

The two companies are also exploring extending the alliance in connection with Sony's wide range of entertainment assets to establish new forms of cloud-based user experiences.--Karl Greenberg