Product category:
Communications ICs (Wireless)
News Release from: Microtune | Subject: One-chip Bluetooth solution
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 17 October 2002
Single-chip Bluetooth drives down
headset prices
Skypower Wireless used the recent Hong Kong Electronics Fair to unveil its award-winning product lineup, and a breakthrough in Bluetooth pricing to drive mass-market adoption.
Skypower Wireless used the recent Hong Kong Electronics Fair to unveil its award-winning product lineup, and a breakthrough in Bluetooth pricing to drive mass-market adoption Skypower, a Hong Kong company incorporated only nine months ago, is already partnered with some of the world's leading telecomms accessories distributors, including GE/Sanyo in the USA, Dextra in the UK, Elta (Mediamart) in Germany and Ora Telecom in France
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 25 Sep 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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Among other firsts, the company offers the world's smallest Bluetooth headset, the world's lowest-cost Bluetooth headsets, and the world's first mass-market Bluetooth headsets to use Microtune's revolutionary one-chip Bluetooth solution.
"We intend to become a world leader in wireless telecomms accessories and transform the mobile phone industry with affordable Bluetooth", declared Mike Wismeyer, Executive Director at Skypower.
"High prices and limited availability have delayed the Bluetooth revolution in the sector, but thanks to new technology and manufacturing savings, we have brought prices down by 50% or more, with no compromise on quality".
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Skypower's EZ232 EZclip Bluetooth headset was voted Best Buy by Computer Bild Germany's top computer magazine in September 2002, and its EZ324 battery packs and EZ323 adapters can turn most standard mobile phones into Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices.
Bluetooth-enabling ordinary mobile phones expands the potential market for Bluetooth accessories to over 1 billion users worldwide, and from nine current phone models to hundreds.
"Our alliance with Microtune and our state-of-the-art dedicated Bluetooth factory in Shenzhen allow us to price way below our competitors", added John Kwok, Skypower Executive Director.
"We are the first Hong Kong company to mass-produce Bluetooth accessories, we have made probably the largest investment in Bluetooth headset development of any company worldwide, and we have probably the largest inventory of such technology.
Hong Kong is renowned as a showcase for mobile phone developments: with Bluetooth, Skypower is launching a new winning venture in Hong Kong's great entrepreneurial tradition".
"A key to enabling the global Bluetooth mass market is a fully integrated and feature-rich system-on-chip solution at US $5.00 or less, and Microtune is taking the lead in driving Bluetooth technology to these price points", said Douglas J Bartek, Chairman and CEO of Microtune.
"Our MT0750 headset-on-a-chip provides the Bluetooth engine to enable the small size, feature-rich functionality, low battery power, high voice quality and low cost of Skypower's products.
Skypower's line of wireless mobile phone accessories boldly demonstrate how Bluetooth functionality can be integrated into innovative consumer electronics that pair convenience and low cost with smart ergonomic design, robust features and simple operation".
"We regard Skypower as a new rising star in wireless telecomms accessories", stated Deon Stander, Marketing Director at Dextra.
"Their technology is world class, and their pricing is unbeatable.
We are confident that they will become a dominant force in the business".
The EZ232 EZclip Bluetooth headset is available now at US $99.00 in Europe and will be US $79.00 without adapter and US $139.00 with adapter in the USA and Europe by Christmas.
Manufacturer's suggested retail prices for these products for 2003 are US $49.99 and US $89.99 respectively.
The EZ233 ultra-small Bluetooth headset and EZ324 Bluetooth battery pack will be available shortly in the USA at US$79.99 and US$49.99 - the EZ324 fitting Nokia 5 and 6 series phones initially, with other popular models to follow.
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