So... how is that going to work?

Sony releases a normal sized smartphone (called Sony Phone) and a bigger version (called Sony Phone Pro) and ditches the small model?

Then they doesn't update the Sony Phone and Sony Phone Pro for years while Samsung and Apple offer improved models every year? Or will they improve the two models every year and sell them with the same name, leading to customer confusion (is this the 2019 model or the 2020 model or the new 2021 model?)

According to the blog:

"Instead of 18 different phones, Sony needs to only offer two concurrent models, one with a standard-sized screen and one with a large-sized screen. These two models are then replaced by upgraded versions once a year. A number will be added to the end of the name to specify what generation it belongs to, as is the case with the Sony PlayStation 4 Pro. The fourth-generation Sony TV Pro will be named “Sony TV 4 Pro”. The following year, it will be replaced by the “Sony TV 5 Pro”."

As for the image above, I don't think it matters what year the phones are from as the criticism is aimed at the fact that Sony at the time was selling 18 different phone models (each with different options for color and storage) on their website.

Spot on.

I agree that getting apps is going to be a monumental task, but I think they can learn from Microsofts, and their own mistakes in Mobile. They have to make sure that it is truly one Sony OS, and one ecosystem. It has to be effortless for developers to support the entire ecosystem. If they make every device, and every business unit work towards a common goal, they can have a lengthy ramp up cycle to success.

 The biggest problem with Xperia and Windows Phones, is their complete lack of connection to each companies most vital assets. Xperia is on a completely different planet, and has no access to PlayStation. Microsoft tried to build Windows Phones from scratch, with no connection to Windows or Xbox. Both companies are failing in Mobile, because their business startagies are/were complete trash. 

Micorosft is setting themselves up very nicely now, with Windows being built to scale from weak phones to monster PCs. They will be in good shape when they re-enter the mobile space. Sony just needs to continue to expand the scalability of its PlayStation assets. 

I have no doubt they can split the difference between Vita and PSP, and bring in about 50 Million consumers with a PS Phone, even with a limited app selection, as long as they have the absolute basics. As long as they have a shared architecture between all of their devices, development and support will be very cheap, and they will be very profitable at low volume. Reaching PSP numbers or above, will be were they really have to go after, and be open to more apps.

Honestly, I think Sony needs to go to one Phone until they get some momentum. Make PlayStation Phone, and support it with full force. They don't need to try and sell 200 million phones a year. If they can sell 10 million PlayStation Phones a year, they will be doing very well. The have carved out their own space in the home computer market with PlayStation Consoles, now they need to do the same in the mobile market with PlayStation Phones. 

I would follow the same business model they have with PS4 in the Phone market. Base PS Phone, minor revisions each year, PS Phone 1000 year 1, PS Phone 1100 year 2, PS Phone 1200 year 3. Then year 4, PS Phone Slim 2000 has a smaller redesign and cheaper price with major marketing push to reach a broader range of customer, while PS Phone Pro 7000 is launched at the high end users. Then it continues PS Phone Slim 2100 and PS Phone Pro 7100, PS Phone Slim 2200 and PS Phone Pro 7200, and so on until they release PS Phone 2.

 Just like with the Home consoles, the XX00 model number would not be advertised, but the core userbase would know the differences. They would only list the PS Phone on the website, just as they only advertise PS4 and PS4 Pro, and don't break down PS4 1000, PS4 1100, PS4 1200, etc., just make it simple. Like I said, the core users will know the differences between each minor revision, and there will be some that upgrade more often than others. Your more casual PS Phone users will buy whatever is on the shelf, and they will use it for many years, until it either breaks, or there is a significant enough upgrade or redesign, that they feel justified to upgrade.

If Sony is doing it right, there phones will be so tailored to their target demographic, that their users would have no interest in what Samsung and Apple are doing anyways. Just like PlayStation Home consoles are only a tiny fraction of Home PC sales, PlayStation Phone can be a tiny fraction of Mobile sales, and still be able to rake in billionsin profits. If they are dedicated to their 50 to 100 Million users, the users will be dedicated to them.

So "one size fits all"? Even Apple realized a few years ago that different people have different preferences in phone size. Since then they are offering three display sizes.

How is expected good news bad for the company and good for the competition?

I don't think one size fits all is the ultimate gameplan. Like I said, I would introduce a slim model in time to attract a wider range of consumers. To start with though, I think Sony just needs to offer one PlayStation Phone, that they focus on fully, and is easily marketable. This means killing off Xperia, and shifting full attiontion to PlayStation Phone, while educating consumers about their new direction. This has to be well planned, well executed, and extremely simple to communicate. Having one PlayStation Phone to tout in the beginning makes the whole thing simpler, and easier to understand. 

Once they have established their new direction, and built a foundation, that is the perfect time for a refresh. Offer the PS Phone Slim, smaller and cheaper than the original, and the PS Phone Pro, bigger and more expensive than the orginal. Then once they build up enough apps, I would go super casual, and make a touch only version, that can slip into a controller dock, but looks like any other smartphone otherwise. This would be once they start to make their push beyond their core demographic, and try to snag some iOS and Android users, or PlayStation fans that just wouldn't buy a phone with built in gaming controls, for reasons. 

Then with PS Phone 2 I would repete the cycle. Single unit to start attracting the core users. Followed by a smaller model, and a more powerful model, allowing to reach more people, and offer a top of the line upgrade for core users. Then finally, a casual touch only model, that can be docked into a controller. 

In a 10 year span, that would only be 6 models. PS Phone/Slim, PS Phone Pro, PS Phone Touch, PS Phone/Slim 2, PS Phone 2 Pro, and PS Phone 2 Touch. 

And again. They don't have to be a 200M unit a year business. If they can maintain even 10 Million a year, they would be doing perfectly fine. Just like PlayStation consoles are a multi-billion dollar a year business in the home space on 80 million users, PlayStation phones can do the same thing in the mobile space.

That said, if they did this, and began to offer a wider range of services and software on PS5, PSVR2, and PS Phone, I beleive they would push well past the current userbase numbers. Done right, they can continue to focus on games, while they let others develop non gaming apps. Meaning PlayStation Products remain as focused as ever on gaming, while also having the ability to handle even more personal and business necessities. Basically, a role reversal from Apple, where everything else is forefront, and games are over in the corner. Sony would be games, games, games, while, Apps and Productivity software would be over in the corner.

So this first device... how much would it weight?

Which size would it have? Would it have sticks and buttons that add to weight and size?

Would it be water and dust resistant? Not that easy with physical sticks and butttons, but expected of high priced smartphones.

How much percent battery drain is per hour gaming? Will the user be notified how many hours are left before he can't make or receive phone calls?

What kind of games would it be able to play?

What other advantage to the competitors would it have?

Again, I can't stress enough, that Sony's focus should be on gamers. The PlayStation Phone would not be a device or Platform, that is going after 200 million sales a year. It would be a niche device just like PlayStation Home Consoles, that targets gamers with a goal of 10 - 20 million sales a year, and a userbase between 60 - 120 million. It would not be aimed at people looking for the most compact and waterproof devices, with the best selfie camera and multi-camera back cam. It would be a handheld gaming device first and foremost, with OS level support for calls and texts. It would have front and rear cameras, both to check the box, and for use in certain games.

You really think that almost every PlayStation Gamer would ditch his iPhone or Android phone and eventually go for a PlayStation phone... with all the downsides compared to other smartphones? (more weight, bigger device, harder to pocket, worse cameras, no water and dust resistance, much smaller selection of apps, some popular apps WON'T be available, already bought iOS or Android apps can't be used anymore, much more flash memory needed for bigger games, very low battery life if they game on it...)

Just to have the option to play some PlayStation games on the go on their phone? Not everybody who enjoys to play PS games at home also wants (or has time) to play these games on the go on a tiny screen... or carry around a bigger and heavier than necessary device 24/7, if they only want to play on it once or twice a week. Console gaming at home is only one of their hobbies, not their live purpose that everything revolves around.

Wtf am I reading???

My friend who is a Nintendo fanboy tells me everyday that Sony is dying and they have to sell buildings to keep afloat. And that their television and mobile phone business is dead and nobody should be buying them.

So how the fook are their stocks at a 10 year high??? Something must be wrong!!!!!