Sony Launches PlayStation 2 In India

Thanks to The Times Of India for their article reporting the official launch of the PlayStation 2 in India, with pricing set at Rs 17,900 ($390 USD) - almost double its grey market price. The article quotes a Sony spokesman as saying "PS2 console prices are high because of the 66 per cent customs duty. We have launched it officially as there is a potential market for it in the country." But the piece continues: "Sony has a tough battle ahead with the grey market, in addition to intense competition from [other consoles via] ..the smuggled goods market", and explains that "...games like Eye Toy, Formula One 2003, Final Fantasy X, Tomb Raider, Lord of the Rings are best sellers this month in India. In general, titles in action, adventure sports, violence and wrestling generate interest in the Indian market."

Comments

India and Pakistan dont get it.

[mnmn]

Countries in the South East Asia really arent trying to push their tech sector much. There are new 'heavy' duties on software about to be imposed and gamers are taxed to death. Most of such electronic equipment pass through in the grey market anyway and the government knows it.

In Pakistan the PTCL communications carrier controls the whole countrys phone and Internet communications. For years the minimum latency from anywhere in Pakistan to anywhere outside was 700ms. Universities were constantly begging the government for a fatter bandwidth pipe while international carriers circled like buzzards around the borders hoping for a slice of business inside.

The same is true for software development. While India has grabbed the edge, in Pakistan the beuraucracy simply does not provide any support to the outsourcing companies there while the fresh blood out of colleges emigrate in batches.

Re:India and Pakistan dont get it.

[Kethinov]

Countries in the South East Asia really arent trying to push their tech sector much.

This statement is quite false. China has its own thriving Linux distro. India has the most prestigious tech college in the world. The Indian Institute of Technology declines a higher percentage of its applicants than US ivy league schools! The founder of Sun Microsystems graduated from that college and was born/raised in India. In fact, I find it very surprising that India didn't already have PS2s. If we US citizens don't start realizing that other countries are catching up with us in the tech race, we're going to fall behind.