Sony's Kaz Hirai has confirmed that the company is set to roll-out an iTunes style service by early next year. He noted that releasing such a service is much preferable early on in the year.

Hirai, who unveiled plans for the service, tentatively called Sony Online Service on Nov. 19, said he hopes for a release next year. "Earlier in the year would be a lot more preferable," he said, during an interview at Sony headquarters in Tokyo.

Since taking over in mid-2006, Sony's CEO and Chairman Howard Stringer has repeatedly said he wants to create a link between the company's electronic products and digital content such as music from Sony's recording label and TV shows and movies from Sony Pictures Entertainment. What's taken so long? "There was always a vision," Hirai said. But before Stringer appointed a new management team and changed the organization chart in February, the company was riven by too many warring factions, he added.

Source: businessweek.com