Ultimately, Sony may have to decide whether it is an electronics firm or a media company.

ECONOMIST: Can Stringer stop Sony malfunctioning? | The

Pioneer, an electronics firm, Elipda, a chipmaker, and Japan Airlines are among the first to look for government support.

ECONOMIST: What Japan needs is more bankruptcies, not fewer

The challenges on the site are incredibly varied and include everything from a multinational food company looking for a "Reduced Fat Chocolate-Flavored Compound Coating" to an electronics firm trying to design a solar-powered computer.

WSJ: Jonah Lehrer on How to Be Creative

The longtime technology investor points to startup consumer electronics company, Sling Media, as an example of a firm that has California headquarters but relies on overseas operations for a big chunk of its engineering work.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai and about 40 other top executives at the company will forego bonuses this year as the Japanese firm struggles to regain its footing in an increasingly competitive global electronics market.

FORBES: Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai And 40 Other Executives Forego Bonuses

But Samsung Electronics, an affiliate of the Samsung chaebol, did have one thing going for it: The firm was totally committed to the up-and-coming phone standard of the time, known as CDMA technology (or code division multiple access), adopted by Sprint.

FORBES: Look out, Sony