Panasonic Bows PDP Service Agent

New York — Panasonic has launched an automated service agent designed to help consumers shopping for digital televisions select appropriate Panasonic plasma products and identify retailers to visit to review and purchase them.

Called “AskPanasonic,” the online customer service software was designed by software developer Conversagent to support Panasonic's U.S. plasma TV marketing initiative. The system, which is billed by the developer as “the first self-service application of its kind in the consumer electronics industry,” is available on Panasonic's Web site at ww.panasonic.com.

It is said to engage customers in typed, natural language conversations, and deliver immediate answers to customers' questions concerning key features and benefits, major comparison points across various product offerings, the optimal plasma experience, the best places to purchase, installation, and more.