TWICE News

• Yamaha Gets New U.S. President
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, April 4, 2007
  Buena Park, Calif. — Yamaha veteran Tom Sumner has been appointed Yamaha Electronics Corp. president, effective April 2, replacing Hogan Osawa.
  
• XM/Sirius Merger Draws More Controversy
  
  By Amy Gilroy, April 4, 2007
  New York — Several groups have stepped forward recently to state opposition to the proposed XM and Sirius satellite radio merger, but XM and Sirius claim that the opposing groups are linked to terrestrial radio interests, rather than the general public.
  
• Sony Drops PSP Price
  
  By Amy Gilroy, April 4, 2007
  Foster City,Calif.— After two years on the market the Sony PlayStationPortable (PSP) is getting a $30 price reduction, bringing the cost of the Core Pack to a suggested $169.
  
• Yamaha Adds Custom Features At Lower Price Points
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, April 3, 2007
  Buena Park, Calif. — Yamaha is bringing custom-oriented features and other technologies to lower price points with the launch of four new A/V receivers.
  
• Epson Bows Sub-$3,000 1,080p Front Projector
  
  By Greg Tarr, April 3, 2007
  New York — Epson unveiled for the press here a pair of 3LCD front projectors with native 1,080p resolution, including a home cinema model with a $2,999 opening price point.
  
• Mobility Electronics Intros iGo Keyboards
  
  by Lisa Johnston, April 3, 2007
  Scottsdale, Ariz. — Mobility Electronics is now offering four portable Bluetooth keyboards under the iGo brand. The keyboards, which each fold up to a case, have full-sized keys, as well as four and five rows.
  
• New Wireless-Data Formats Debut At CTIA
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, April 3, 2007
  Orlando, Fla. — What’s next for CDMA carriers after launching CDMA 1x EV-DO Rev. A and for GSM carriers after launching HSPA (high-speed packet access)?
  
• Carriers Outline Music, Video, Data Plans
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, April 3, 2007
  Orlando, Fla. — Carriers’ priorities this year, based on announcements made at the CTIA show, include video calling, mobile TV, rollouts of high-speed data networks and taking Apple head-on in the MP3 phone category.
  
• Handsets Offer More Data Services
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, April 3, 2007
  Orlando, Fla. — Handset suppliers introduced more 3G W-CDMA phones incorporating high-speed HSDPA data technology, new smartphones and PDA phones based on the new Windows Mobile 6 OS, a palmtop Windows Vista phone, and some of the first phones that will operate in the new 1.7GHz and 2.1GHz bands set aside for cellular in the United States.
  
• Canon Tops Worldwide Digicam Market
  
  By Greg Scoblete, April 3, 2007
  Framingham, Mass — Canon retained its lead as the worldwide shipment leader in digital cameras, according to figures released by the research firm IDC.
  
• LG Mobile DTV System To Debut
  
  By Greg Tarr, April 3, 2007
  Chicago — LG’s Zenith Electronics unit and broadcast equipment manufacturer Harris have developed a system to extend over-the-air digital ATSC TV broadcasts for mobile reception.
  
• 8x8 Hits 7K Virtual Office Subs
  
  By Greg Scoblete, April 3, 2007
  Santa Clara, Calif. — VoIP provider 8x8 announced today that it had passed the 7,000 subscriber mark for its Virtual Office business phone service.
  
• Plextor Delivers USB-based HDTV Receiver
  
  by Doug Olenick, April 2, 2007
  Fremont, Calif. — Computer peripherals maker Plextor has introduced a USB-based device that can deliver over-the-air HDTV programming to any computer.
  
• Maytag Casts New ‘Ol’ Lonely’
  
  by Colleen Bohen, April 2, 2007
  Benton Harbor, Mich. — The Maytag Repairman has been recast following a nationwide search for the latest man fit to wear the blue uniform. Clay Jackson of Richmond, Va., will represent the new face of the brand, which was acquired by Whirlpool last year and, according to an announcement last fall, will be facing a series of rebranding initiatives into the next year.
  
• AQUOS Promo Targets Recycling
  
  By Greg Tarr, April 2, 2007
  Mahwah, N.J. — Sharp is using the spate of state and local TV recycling laws that are either in place or coming soon to a recycling center near you as a promotional opportunity for its big-screen AQUOS LCD TVs.
  
• Denon’s Baker To Head D&M’s Expanded Latin America Effort
  
  By TWICE Staff, April 2, 2007
  Mahwah, N.J. — D&M Holdings has selected Denon president Stephen Baker to head "a major expansion initiative" into the Latin American market.
  
• SunRocket Hits 200K Subscriber Mark
  
  by Greg Scoblete, April 2, 2007
  Vienna, Va. — VoIP provider SunRocket said today it had passed the 200,000 subscriber mark.
  
• Brightpoint Completes CellStar Acquisition
  
  By Colleen Bohen, March 30, 2007
  Plainfield, Ind. —Brightpoint has completed its previously-announced acquisition of virtually all of CellStar’s assets and liabilities related to its U.S. and Latin American businesses.
  
• SBCA Joins DTV Transition Group
  
  By Greg Tarr, March 30, 2007
  Washington — The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association (SBCA) said Friday that it has joined the Digital Television (DTV) Transition Coalition.
  
• CE Express Is Planning Cancer Bike Tour
  
  By Colleen Bohen, March 30, 2007
  Denver — The CE Express team of consumer electronics industry cyclists, spearheaded by CEDIA president Ken Smith, is planning its next “Tour for the Cure,” a bike tour to raise money for cancer research.