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Sony and MBNA Ireland today announces the launch of the SonyCard Credit Card (www.SonyCard.ie) in the Republic of Ireland.
DUBLIN, IRELAND July 15, 2004 — Leading Consumer Electronics and Entertainment Company, Sony and MBNA Ireland today announced the launch of the SonyCard credit card (http://www.SonyCard.ie) in the Republic of Ireland.
SonyCard rewards members with a points program – One “Pulsebeat” is awarded for every 1.5 Euro spent on the card and triple Pulsebeats can be claimed when using the card to buy Sony products. Pulsebeats can be exchanged for over 470 Sony products featured in the SonyCard online catalogue (http://www.sonycard.ie/members) including:
* The latest Sony Music CDs
* Columbia TriStar DVDs
* PlayStation games & PlayStation consoles
* Sony Electronics Products
As a special bonus SonyCard gives new members 2000 FREE Sony Pulsebeats, enough to claim a Sony CD, DVD, PS One game, or a free Sony Walkman personal stereo.
SonyCard also offers cardholders the chance to win Sony prizes through regular Dream Draws accessed online at the SonyCard Members website. Entrants could find themselves winning anything from an AIBO Entertainment Robot to attending the latest Hollywood film premiere!
The SonyCard member’s area also gives cardholder’s access to the latest news from Sony and to MBNA’s secure website where they can view their balance and recent transactions.
SonyCard Ireland extends the current program available in the UK and Spain featuring “best-in-class” rewards programs, giving SonyCard holders many ways to earn Sony products through their everyday purchases.
SonyCard is a key initiative in further strengthening the Sony-brand and enhancing its relationship with its customers in Ireland in the lead-up to Sony’s 60th Anniversary in 2006.
“SonyCard Credit Card & its rewards program are core components of Sony’s marketing strategy to further strengthen the brand,” said Takeshi Shika, Managing Director of Sony Card Europe. “Sony will use the rewards program to provide Irish customers with an extensive range of Sony electronics and entertainment products, which sets Sony apart from the competition.”
SonyCard uniquely brings all Sony Group companies together in one product – the Consumer Products Group (electronics), Sony Music Entertainment, Columbia TriStar Home Video – (a Sony Pictures Entertainment company) and Sony Computer Entertainment (PlayStation).
Sushil Teji, General Manager of Sony Electronics Ireland said: “We are very pleased to be working with SonyCard to give our customers even more Sony for their money – the card fits perfectly with the high service levels delivered in particular through our 14 Sony Centre stores located throughout Ireland. Promoting SonyCard is yet another way in which Sony and Sony Centres maintain their service and value leadership position.”
SonyCard offers a competitive APR – an introductory rate of 1.9% APR on balance transfers for six months from the date the account is opened with a standard rate of 16.9%APR (variable) on card purchases.
“There was a synergy in the approach to innovation between MBNA and Sony,” said Ian O’Doherty, Regional Director, MBNA Ireland. “One of the MBNA’s key philosophies is to create strategic partnerships with like-minded organizations. We see a great potential for SonyCard, as it touches customers daily lives in countless ways. We expect MBNA and Sony relationship to be very successful.”
Leading on Great Rates, Great Rewards & welcome to the World of Sony, the marketing campaign will include a Website (http://www.sonycard.ie) and Ads, Inserts in the Irish press such as the Sunday Independent, Direct Mail Campaigns, Product Inserts into select Columbia TriStar Home Video DVDs such as S.W.A.T. and Application Brochures in Sony Centres. In addition, to mark the official launch of SonyCard in Ireland, marketing activity is set to upscale over the month of July through special co-promotions with Sony Pictures for the release of “13-GOING-ON-30.”
About MBNA Corporation
MBNA (NYSE:KRB), the largest independent credit card lender in the world and the recognized leader in affinity marketing, is an international financial services company providing lending, deposit, and credit insurance products and services to more than 50 million Customers. MBNA credit cards and related products and services are endorsed by more than 5,000 organizations worldwide. MBNA employs more than 29,000 people, each of whom is committed to satisfying the Customer. For more information, visit the company’s web site at http://www.mbna.com .
About Sony
Sony manufactures audio, video, communications and information technology products for the global consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, games and online businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to become a leading personal broadband entertainment company in the 21st century. In Europe, Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of EUR 13.47 billion (yen 1,765 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004, based on an average market exchange rate for the same period of yen 131 to the EUR. Sony Europe, headquartered at the Sony Center at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, is responsible for the company’s European electronics business and registered consolidated sales of EUR 8.71 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004.
For further information regarding SonyCard, please contact:
Danielle Wood
Sony Card Europe – London
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7426 8778
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7426 8780
Email: [email protected]
For further information regarding MBNA, please contact:
John Greaves
Head of Communications
MBNA Europe
Direct: +44 (0) 1244 574404
Mobile: +44 (0) 7980 723773
Email: [email protected]
For more information on Sony Europe, please visit http://www.sony-europe.com and http://www.sony-europe.com/presscenter or please contact:
Georges Gerard
Corporate Communications Europe –London
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7444 9722
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7444 9762
Email: [email protected]
Shusuke Kanai
Corporate Communications Europe – London
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7444 9723
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7444 9762
Email: [email protected]
Sylvia Shin
Corporate Communications Europe – Berlin Office
Tel: +49 (0) 30 2575 5156
Fax: +49 (0) 30 2575 5174
Email: [email protected]
