Covid-19: Demand for Sharp’s face masks crashes its website

Customers flocked to Sharp’s website on April 21, rendering the site inaccessible as they sought to buy made-in-Japan masks by the electronics maker. Demand for the 2,980 yen (RM122) boxes of 50 masks was so high that the flood of web traffic even impacted Sharp’s connected devices, with users complaining that Internet-of-Things gadgets from air conditioners to online kitty litter boxes were inaccessible. — AP

Japan’s Sharp Corp, better known as a maker of flat-panel televisions and iPhone screen provider for Apple Inc, ran into trouble on the first day of sale of its latest hit product: face masks.

Customers flocked to Sharp’s website on April 21, rendering the site inaccessible as they sought to buy made-in-Japan masks by the electronics maker. Demand for the 2,980 yen (RM122) boxes of 50 masks was so high that the flood of web traffic even impacted Sharp’s connected devices, with users complaining that Internet-of-Things gadgets from air conditioners to online kitty litter boxes were inaccessible.