Microsoft Xbox slash prices USA
Microsoft is cutting the U.S. price of its Xbox 360 game consoles.
Step would mean that the basic model costs $ 199 (£ 112) – cheaper than the best-selling Nintendo Wii. He said that the prices of other models Xbox less than $ 50.
The court also means that the Xbox 360 is about half the suggested retail price of PlayStation 3.
Cut the United States – follows a similar movement in Japan. Microsoft said it had no plans to further reduce prices for Europeans.
Christmas console
The price cut will come into force on 5 September. Microsoft said it wanted the base model price dives below psychologically important barrier of $ 200.
About 75% of all console sales were less than the price, said Microsoft.
Price $ 199 applies only to Xbox 360 arcade that the unit of 256 MB of memory on board to replace the hard disk. Adding a 20 GB hard drive, could add up to $ 90 of the total value.
XBOX 360 PRICES
- Xbox 360 Arcade – was $279 – now $199
- Xbox 360 Pro – was $349 – now $299
- Xbox 360 Elite was $449 – now $399
In late August, Microsoft announced that prices of Japanese Xbox 360 could fall in September. Court means, Xbox Arcade costs 19800 yen ($ 182) will be cheaper than Wii.
However, Microsoft said it had no plans to lower prices for European console. In a statement he said: “Prices are listed in the region. We do not lower prices in the region, to advertise.”
In March, Microsoft prices in Europe, which means that the recommended price for the Arcade £ 159,99. This is lower than European prices for Wii.
Analysts said Microsoft, the decision was taken in an attempt to launch Xbox sales in the run-up to Christmas. In recent months, the console rivals Sony and Nintendo have and outsell.
“Microsoft recognizes that he needs to do something, and I think it can afford,” said Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Morgan. “They came to the view of most household penetration and sales of additional software.
source : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7598074.stm
