Chang Seng Hock: As penetration of digital still cameras are still low in developing countries, Nepal will be one of the key markets in South Asia for Sony as growth is expected to be healthy. From the leading research company Gfk, Sony?s Cyber-shot is Asia?s No 1 best selling compact digital camera in China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam. Although there is no independent report for market size and share for digital still cameras, from our market study, Sony is the clear market leader in Nepal.

Which are the growth areas that you see?is it consumer electronics or the content side of Sony products?

For Nepal, growth areas are in consumer electronics, like digital still cameras, hi-fi systems, as well as LCD TVs.

Where exactly does Nepal fit into your future growth strategy in the region?

Working closely with our distributor, besides expanding the range and product model offerings, we are refitting Sony showrooms so as to allow consumers more hands-on experience and better understanding of our products and value proposition. Currently our distributor is operating a service center at Kantipath Showroom. We are reviewing the service network to reach out to more Nepali consumers.

What is the reason for your visit to Nepal, and from what you have heard what do you feel about the investment climate here?

I am happy to be in Nepal and together with our official distributor, Nepa Hima Trade Link, to launch the latest Cyber-shot ?SMILE Campaign?. Dealers say they have seen good growth in sales versus previous years and with the political situation improving, we believe the investment climate will improve as well.

What advice would you have for businesses here?

Be optimistic. I believe things will get better once there is political stability in the country.

Rock the Bells powered by SanDisk will take place from July through September in cities around the world, including Chicago, Toronto, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London and Amsterdam. The sponsorship program includes advertising promotions in the cities where the concerts are held, SMS campaigns, radio promotions and giveaways and a SanDisk VIP hospitality environment at concert venues. Within this setting, artists will experience elements of SanDisk's on-site activation and test drive some of SanDisk's new products. Additionally, concert-goers will have the opportunity to meet a SanDisk "SLOT (TM) spotter," participate in a SanDisk interactive experience and win prizes.

About SanDisk(R) Mobile Ultra(TM)

SanDisk Mobile Ultra premium flash memory cards for multimedia mobile phones will be promoted at the Rock the Bells powered by SanDisk venues. The message of the Wake Up Your Phone(TM) campaign is that these memory cards can add up to 8GB* of additional digital storage. Having a mobile memory card in one's phone results in a significant boost in storage capacity, making it possible for consumers to take up to 1000 songs, 1200 photos and 21 hours of video with them.** That's more than enough capacity to drive from San Francisco to New York without hearing the same song twice, fill six photo albums with images and watch both Star Wars trilogies and the Matrix trilogy, as examples.

The SanDisk Mobile Ultra microSD comes in capacities of 2GB, 4GB and 8GB, with suggested MSRPs of $34.99, $59.99 and $119.99, respectively. Also available is the SanDisk Mobile Ultra Memory Stick Micro M2(TM), designed for Sony Ericsson smart phones, in 2GB, 4 GB and 8GB capacities, with suggested MSRPs of $39.99, $69.99 and $129.99.

SanDisk Mobile Ultra memory cards are available at retail outlets starting this summer, including Sprint stores nationwide.

To learn more about SanDisk's Wake Up Your Phone(TM) initiative, designed to increase awareness for this and other global marketing efforts, as well as to provide overall mobile phone slot education, visit www.wakeupyourphone.com. For more information about SanDisk's mobile phone products, see www.sandisk.com/mobile.

About Rock the Bells(TM) Powered by SanDisk

Guerilla Union's Rock the Bells Powered by SanDisk 2008 has established its international festival series as a world-class hip-hop platform, hosting legendary performances by Rage Against the Machine, NAS, A Tribe Called Quest, Public Enemy, Lauryn Hill, Blackstar (Talib Kweli and Mos Def), Hieroglyphics, Living Legends, De La Soul, Busta Rhymes, Cypress Hill and Jurassic 5, as well as reuniting Wu-Tang for their last performance with ODB in 2004. In 2007, it was the top-grossing hip-hop event in the country. This year's festival series tour will pass through 10 major markets in North America, in addition to events in Europe and Asia, and feature stellar performances from many of hip-hop's most notable names, including A Tribe Called Quest, NAS, Mos Def, De La Soul, Rakim, Method Man & Redman, Raekwon & Ghostface (Cuban Linx), Immortal Technique, Dead Prez, Murs, Kidz In The Hall, the reunited The Pharcyde and many others.

Complete details can be found at www.guerillaunion.com.

About SanDisk

SanDisk Corporation, the inventor and world's largest supplier of flash storage cards, is a global leader in flash memory - from research, manufacturing and product design to consumer branding and retail distribution. SanDisk's product portfolio includes flash memory cards for mobile phones, digital cameras and camcorders; Sansa(R) digital audio/video players; USB flash drives for consumers and the enterprise; embedded memory for mobile devices; and solid state drives for computers. SanDisk (www.sandisk.com/corporate) is a Silicon Valley-based S&P 500 company, with more than half of its sales outside the United States.

* 1 gigabyte (GB) = 1 billion bytes. Some capacity not available for data storage.

** Approximation based on 4 minute songs at 128 kbps MP3, a 2MP camera, however, the actual number of photos may vary based on phone model, resolution and compression and MPEG-4 video at 384 kbps, where the actual time may vary based on resolution and compression.

SanDisk's web site is: http://www.sandisk.com. SanDisk product and executive images can be downloaded from http://www.sandisk.com/corporate.

SanDisk and the SanDisk logo are trademarks of SanDisk Corporation, registered in the United States and other countries. MobileMate, SanDisk Mobile Ultra and Wake Up Your Phone are trademarks of SanDisk Corporation.. MicroSD and microSDHC are trademarks. Memory Stick Micro M2 is a trademark of Sony Corporation. Other brand names mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective holder(s).

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including expectations for applications, markets, customer acceptance, customers and specifications, which are based on our current expectations and involve numerous risks and uncertainties that may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate. Risks that may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate include among others: our products may not perform as expected or be available at the prices expected, market demand for our products may grow more slowly than our expectations or there may be a slower adoption rate for these products in new markets that we are targeting, and the other risks detailed from time-to-time under the caption "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including, but not limited to, our Form 10-K and our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. We do not intend to update the information contained in this press release.

SOURCE: SanDisk Corporation

SanDisk Corporation
Rachel Polish, 408-801-2697 or 408-768-0312 (mobile)
Rachel.Polish@sandisk.com
or
MSO Public Relations for "Rock the Bells"
Alexandra Greenberg, 818-380-0400 x223
agreenberg@msopr.com
Shazila Mohammed, 818-380-0400 x238
shazila@msopr.com

Select models feature a high-resolution 1600 X 900 widescreen display, providing a 40 percent wider workspace than a standard display within the same "footprint" -- so the view increases while the notebook's size does not. This makes it easier to view multiple documents or lengthy spreadsheets on a single screen.

A seamless sheet of brushed aluminum adorns the keyboard panel elegantly framing its individual keys. The spacing between the keys is precisely engineered to create a comfortable typing experience while helping to prevent mistakes.

"Today's mobile professional demands not only portability from a notebook but that it meets their productivity needs as well," said Mike Abary, senior vice president of VAIO product marketing at Sony Electronics. "This new model is an amazing engineering feat packing the full functionality of a larger PC into an ultra-light form factor."

The unit is housed in a durable carbon-fiber casing to help endure the knocks, bumps and accidents common to frequent travel. It also incorporates G-Sensor(TM) Shock Protection technology to counteract sudden movements helping to prevent damage and data loss.

It is powered by new Intel(R) Centrino(R) 2 technology, the chipset designed for sizzling performance, unbelievable system responsiveness, and energy efficiency.

Road warriors will love its built-in 802.11n wireless LAN capabilities making it faster and easier to connect to compatible wireless networks with greater performance and range than ever before. For blazing-fast wireless access beyond networks and hotspots, the unit features optional built-in wireless Sprint(R) Mobile Broadband, the nation's largest wireless broadband network.

The Z model has an optional Blu-ray Disc (BD) optical drive for enjoying, creating and storing high-definition content. Enjoy BD movies in stunning clarity while on the road or utilize the HDMI output during meetings and make presentations come to life in full 1080 HD resolution. Compatible HDTV and HDMI cable required, sold separately.

It also includes a switch-on-the-fly hybrid graphics system, allowing you to set graphics performance instantly for striking presentations that "pop" or extend battery life -- all without having to reboot.

The PC employs a biometric fingerprint sensor, a Trusted Platform Module compliant chip and proprietary hard disk drive password protection software to help protect data from unauthorized access.

Equipped with a trial version of the My Memory Center(TM) service, the PC lets you easily transfer valuable data from your old computer to your new one via a password-protected online account. The unit comes pre-installed with Windows Vista(R) Business operating system. A Windows(R) XP Pro downgrade is also available for select models.

It is equipped with plenty of slots, ports and jacks, including a Memory Stick(R) media/SD card slot, three USB ports, i.LINK(R) IEEE-1394 port, microphone and headphone jack and a PC Card (type-II) slot making it easy to transfer files from external devices.

The PC is also available in a dual channel 128 GB solid state drive (SSD) model. Faster and more durable, the SSD unit provides a rapid boot-up and quicker access to applications than is typical of standard hard drives.

All models are Energy Star(R) 4.0 compliant, hold an EPEAT Silver ranking and incorporates eco-conscious features such as a mercury-free LED backlit LCD. Sony will even recycle your old PC (http://www.sony.com/recycle).

The standard VAIO Z notebook will start at about $1,800 while the SSD model will go for around $2,300. Both models will be available online at http://www.sony.com/pr/z. They will also be sold at Sony Style(R) stores and select retailers around the country starting in August.

SOURCE Sony Electronics Inc.

http://www.sony.com/vaio

The PC is housed in a durable magnesium alloy casing to endure the knocks, bumps and accidents common to frequent travel. It also incorporates G-Sensor(TM) Shock Protection technology to counteract sudden movements helping to prevent damage and data loss.

A spill-resistant keyboard panel has been added to help protect the internal components of the computer against accidental spills.

The BZ notebook is powered by new Intel(R) Centrino(R) 2 technology, the chipset designed for sizzling performance, unbelievable system responsiveness, and energy efficiency.

Select models come with Intel(R) vPro technology enabling IT managers to fix PC-related problems remotely -- without ever leaving their workstation -- saving precious time and reducing support-related costs.

The PC also features a stripped-down software load so that the notebook can be imaged faster greatly reducing set up time for the IT professional.

"Whether running heavy applications back at the office or closing a deal on the road today's professionals need their PCs to perform -- wherever, whenever," said Mike Abary, senior vice president of VAIO product marketing at Sony Electronics. "This notebook delivers the robust performance they require."

With the BZ notebook's integrated 802.11n LAN technology wirelessly check e-mail and surf the web with greater range and reliability than ever before when connected to a compatible hotspot.

The PC employs a biometric fingerprint sensor, a Trusted Platform Module compliant chip and proprietary hard disk drive password protection software to help protect data from unauthorized access.

It comes pre-installed with Windows Vista(R) Business operating system. A Windows(R) XP Pro downgrade is also included for easy integration into existing platforms.

The PC is equipped with plenty of slots, ports and jacks, including a Memory Stick(R) media/SD card slot, three USB ports, i.LINK(R) IEEE-1394 port, microphone and headphone jack and a PC Card (type-II) slot making it easy to transfer files from external devices.

Sony offers VAIO Care(TM) (http://www.sony.com/vaiocare) a total lifecycle management program that supports a business's needs throughout the life of the product. Components of the program include extended service and accidental damage protection options, 24/7 customer support and a dedicated phone line for business customers.

The BZ models are Energy Star 4.0 and EPEAT Silver compliant and incorporate eco-conscious features such as a mercury-free LED backlit LCD to minimize the risk of mercury seeping into vulnerable eco-systems at the end of its lifecycle.

Sony will also recycle your old PC, donate it for you or allow you to trade it in, for fair market value, towards the purchase of a new PC (http://www.sony.com/business).

The VAIO Professional BZ Series notebook line will be available, later this month, starting at about $1,000, through value-added resellers and direct market resellers. More information about the BZ Series is available online at http://www.sony.com/pr/bz.

SOURCE Sony Electronics Inc.

http://www.sony.com/news