TechCrunch is reporting that Sony will stop making floppy disks in March 2011. According to the article, Sony (6758) is actually still making and selling those discs. But soon it’s time to say goodbye. The company said [JP] it will stop production in March 2012. Sony rolled out the world’s first 3.5-inch floppy disc back in 1981. Even in 2008, the company could still sell 8.5 million units in Japan alone.
TechChrunch says “Not too surprisingly, Sony cites rapidly plunging demand as the reason” Floppy disk (demand peaked in 1995 and has shrunk more than 90% since. Hitachi Maxell and Mitsubishi Kagaku Media, two other major makers, withdrew from floppy disc sales in the spring of 2009.
Quietly, Sony wrapped up international sales of floppy discs last month. The exception was India and a few other parts of the world. The company already stopped producing floppy disc drives last September.
For the youngsters – here is what a floppy drive is
Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.