Sony to invest $890 million to boost sensor production

(Reuters) - Sony Corp said it would spend 105 billion yen ($892.40 million/ £590.45 million) to boost production capacity for imaging sensors, increasing its focus on a business that is becoming one of its strongest as its TV and mobile operations struggle.

Sony said it expects demand to grow further for CMOS image sensors, used in tablet computers and smartphones such as Apple's iPhone.

Sony said it would bolster total output capacity, at its three plants in Japan, to 80,000 wafers per month by the end of June 2016 from a current 60,000 per month.

(Reporting by Ritsuko Ando; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim)

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/02/02/uk-sony-sensors-idUKKBN0L60E520150202

This is either going to be really good or really bad for them

hope it works out

I just hope they don't over-estimate it or else it will result to more money down the drain

They do make great CMOS for cameras/phones!

I think Sony should ditch TV for now, try and find a partner to work with for mobiles that could provide financial ease and marketing stability, and focus on the 4 strong suits - Cameras, Playstation, Movies/TV, Music

So THAT'S why they sold SOE.

...zing!

And about 15 buildings

they seem to pretty much have a monopoly on smartphone cam sensors these days and it's certainly beneficial to Sony if that stays that way

I dunno, to me it seems they should invest more.
From 60k a month to 80k a month and only next year doesn't sound like a significant-enough increase.
Yes.......that's 20x12 extra a year but that still looks too small lol.

And also, what if Samsung goes into this buissness/increases production too? This extra investment will be beneficial to compete with Samsung in the sensor market lol.

Are you sure? It could also be very neutral for them. You should cover all the bases just to be safe =p