Despite the poor economy, Comcast and Sony plan to open a retail store Tuesday. The U.S. cable TV operator and the electronics company will use the store to showcase new technologies and products, taking a page from Apple Inc. The store will be called Sony Style Comcast Labs and ensconced in the Comcast Center (pictured above), the newest skyscraper in Philadelphia and headquarters of the United State’s largest cable operator.
Sir Howard Stringer, chairman and CEO of Sony Corporation, and Brian L. Roberts, chairman and CEO of Comcast, conceived the idea as a destination where consumers could learn about emerging technologies and experience new digital devices.
The store, more than 315 square meters, will show off such things as home broadband equipment that would enable people to surf at 100 megabits a second – roughly 17 times the average speed of cable broadband. Comcast plans to roll out service that fast by year’s end.
Sony will display a new TV running Comcast’s TV interface. It uses Tru2way, which is software cable providers are rolling out to standardize their systems so the same set-top box can work with any cable operator. The store also will sell Sony PlayStations, laptops, cameras and camcorders.
Robert Faught, senior vice-president of retail and alternate channel sales at Comcast, said the company has no plans for now to expand beyond the one store, since the cable service already is being marketed through major retailers. But that could change depending on how this store performs.
Sony has over 40 retail stores in the United States, called Sony Style. The Comcast-Sony store will include Sony Style’s “concierge counter,” where staff will answer customers’ questions about products.
“Consumer electronics are becoming increasingly advanced, and the strategy behind the Sony Style stores has always been to create a comfortable environment where consumers interact with and educate themselves about the latest technology,” said Stan Glasgow, president and COO of Sony Electronics in the U.S. “At Sony Style Comcast Labs, trained staff show consumers how to unlock the full potential of their devices by demonstrating how Comcast’s advanced delivery services integrate beautifully with Sony’s hardware products and entertainment content.”
“Innovation has been the cornerstone of all that we do at Comcast and this new interactive space is the perfect showcase for our current and future technology,” said Tony Werner, Comcast’s chief technology officer. “We’re thrilled to have this unique space anchor our corporate headquarters as a clear demonstration of innovation. It’s also a terrific, hands-on way for consumers to experience how all our products work together.”
