Sony, Apple, Motorola in PC Venture

Sony Corp. is joining with Apple Computer Inc. and Motorola Inc. of the United States to develop new multimedia personal computers by 1993, a leading economic newspaper reported Thursday.

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun said Sony and Motorola each have acquired 5% to 6% interests in General Magic Inc., which was set up in California last year and is owned primarily by Apple Computer.

The newspaper said General Magic is developing technology to produce the next generation of multimedia personal computers, which use various forms of information, including graphics and animation, text data, audio and video.

Officials of Sony, Motorola Japan and Apple Computer Japan declined to comment.

Nihon Keizai said the project would develop into a large-scale U.S.-Japan joint project as the three firms are now calling on Toshiba Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., both of Japan, and American Telephone and Telegraph Co. to join.

Officials of Toshiba and Matsushita said their companies have not been sounded out so far. They declined to discuss details.