Mobile Briefs

By TWICE Staff On Aug 22 2005 - 6:00am

Monster Drops iCruze Price

BRISBANE, Calif.— Monster announced a price promotion on the iCruze iPod connector. It reduced the price by $50 to $199.95 and extended an instant discount promotion for an additional $50 at the time of purchase for a total discount of $100.

Kenwood Offers New AAC Head Unit

Long Beach, Calif.— Kenwood is shipping a new Excelon CD receiver that can play back AAC audio files, the format used by Apple iTunes and the iPod. The AAC music files stored in iTunes can be burned to a CD and played through the new Kenwood KDC-X689 receiver. AAC music files are smaller than MP3 files and offer better sound quality, said Kenwood.

The KDC-X689 also has MP3 and WMA capability and is both HD-radio- and Sirius Satellite Radio-ready. Suggested retail price is $420.

MERA Endorses Tuner Challenge

INDIANAPOLIS— The Mobile Enhancement Retailers Association (MERA) said it is endorsing the “Tuner Challenge,” a 30-minute reality series that will debut in September on Spike TV.

“Tuner Challenge” will pit two teams of five installers in a nonstop, 72-hour marathon to install specified parts and accessories on two identical stock vehicles. One of the teams will win a $5,000 weekly prize.

MERA said it expects the program will generate even stronger consumer interest in mobile enhancement products, and it will provide MERA a means of promoting its “Your Ride Your Way” campaign.

“Tuner Challenge” will be taped at Ride Revolution, Johnson City, Tenn.