the rix mix

Reports of the Walkman's demise are premature, says Sony.

The company may be ending sales and production in Japan, but it says it will still be available in the US, and presumably, elsewhere.

An unnamed spokesperson told the Los Angeles Times there is "a consistent but small demand" for the old-school tape player, and there are no plans to cut it from the US market.

The confusion seems to have stemmed from a note on Sony's Japanese website, announcing the end of production – but this only applies to Japan. Walkmans will still be produced in China, by a company contracted by Sony, and sold across Asia, the Middle East and the US.

The Walkman was launched in the late 1970s, and was the first truly portable way of listening to music, outside of car stereos.

Its name lives on in Sony's range of mp3 players.

# posted by Bob : 9:55 PM

Share |