San Antonio — The Progressive Retailers Organization was at the Westin La Cantera Hill Coun
PhatNoise will ship this month a 20GB version of the MP3 system it showed at the January CES for both the aftermarket and OEM.
According to Dannie Lau, VP of business and product development, the MP3 shuttle system will be compatible with 2000 and newer Kenwood aftermarket products as well as Audi, BMW, Honda, Toyota and Volkswagen radios from the same time period.
The PhatNoise player will be sold to the aftermarket beginning Nov. 15 and Visteon will market its version of the player, called the MACH MP3, in the first quarter of 2002.
The player attaches to a CD head unit like a CD changer. It accepts 20GB cartridges, which are about the size of a Palm PDA.
The system also ships with a USB docking station that attaches to the home PC and software. Users then download music files to the cartridge from their PCs for playback in the car.
PhatNoise said it is targeting high-end installer specialists for its initial aftermarket sales. The company is selling through distributors and will announce additional "CE partners" later this month.
The PhatNoise MP3 system has a suggested retail price of $799.