Sony Falls Short

Sony plans to deliver only half the expected number of Playstation 2 consoles for the U.S. launch. The company is reporting that it will manage just 500,000 PS2 units for the October 26 launch, half of the 1 million consoles originally projected. Sony places blame for the shortfall on an inability to source components. The company is promising to make up the difference before the holiday buying season by adding 100,000 units each week until the end of the year, and still plans to meet its goal of 10 million units worldwide and 3 million in the U.S. by March 2001. News of the shortage sent Sony's stock down more than five percent. "We will be able to supply a flow of products, instead of a huge initial spike,'' said Sony's Kaz Hirai.