TWICE News

• Wireless Zone Realigns Management, Targets Midwest
  
  by Alan Wolf, January 29, 2007
  Middletown, Conn. — Wireless Zone, the 270-unit chain of franchised wireless stores, has reorganized its management team and will expand into the Midwest from its East Coast roots with upwards of 130 new stores by July 2008.
  
• Two New Titles From Avanquest
  
  By Doug Olenick, January 29, 2007
  Pleasonton, Calif. – Avanquest Software will release two new titles this week, MyPDF Maker and MyLogo Maker.
  
• Vendors Ready For Vista
  
  By Doug Olenick, January 29, 2007
  New York — With Microsoft’s Vista operating system due out at midnight on Jan. 30, the major PC vendors have stocked retailer store rooms with Vista-equipped models.
  
• Toshiba Offers $200 Rebate
  
  By Greg Tarr, January 29, 2007
  Wayne, N.J. — Toshiba used the big-screen TV buying frenzy that generally greets the pre-Super Bowl period to jointly promote its big-screen TVs and HD DVD players.
  
• Adobe Intros Photoshop Lightroom
  
  By Greg Scoblete, January 29, 2007
  San Jose, Calif.— Adobe said today that it would ship its Photoshop Lightroom software by mid-February.
  
• In-Stat Study: Differentiation Key To Mobile WiMAX Success
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, January 29, 2007
  Scottsdale, Ariz. — Mobile WiMAX carriers will have to differentiate their services from cellular offerings if they are to survive, and even then, they will face many technical, cost and competitive challenges in the United States, a study by In-Stat concludes.
  
• Harman Reports Double-Digit Sales
  
  By TWICE Staff, January 26, 2007
  Washington – Harman International Industries reported double-digit gains in net sales and net income for its fiscal second quarter ended Dec. 31.
  
• Polaroid Plans Further Diversification
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, January 26, 2007
  Minnetonka, Minn. – Polaroid’s consumer electronics division is continuing its diversification drive with a planned entry into portable media players (PMPs), video-capable MP3 players and portable navigation devices (PNDs) following its entry last fall into GPS-equipped portable DVD players, said marketing VP Cheryl Mau.
  
• Microsoft Sets Vista Launch Parties
  
  By Doug Olenick, January 26, 2007
  New York – Microsoft is planning more then 30 retail events nationwide to help usher in Windows Vista and Office 2007 on Jan. 30.
  
• Microsoft Reports Higher Sales, Lower Earnings
  
  By Steve Smith, January 26, 2007
  Redmond, Wash. — Microsoft reported record revenue of $12.5 billion for the quarter, ended Dec. 31, a 6 percent increase from $11.8 billion over the same period of the prior year, even though its Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office will be released next week.
  
• i-mate PocketPC Phone Adds QWERTY Keyboard
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, January 25, 2007
  Redmond, Wash. — Two new Windows Mobile-based PDA phones introduced by i-mate for GSM networks include the company’s second PocketPC phone with full QWERTY keyboard.
  
• Study Finds Cellular’s Oldsmobile Generation
  
  By Joseph Palenchar, January 25, 2007
  Reston, Va. — Consumers between the ages of 18 and 24 are far more likely to view their cellphone as a tool for more than basic voice communication than adults who are at least 35-years-old, according to a survey of cellphone users by comScore Networks.
  
• Nokia Reports Major Q4, Annual Sales, Profit Gains
  
  By Steve Smith, January 25, 2007
  Helsinki, Finland — Nokia reported increased fourth-quarter and annual net sales and profits, with mobile phones posting double-digit gains for both time periods.
  
• Olympus Intros 18x Optical Zoom Digital Camera
  
  By Greg Scoblete, January 25, 2007
  Center Valley, Penn. — Olympus announced a new slate of digital cameras today, including the first consumer point-and-shoot to offer an 18x optical zoom lens.
  
• DisplaySearch Conference Slated
  
  By Greg Tarr, January 24, 2007
  Austin, Texas — Consumer electronics market research firm DisplaySearch will present its ninth annual U.S. Flat-Panel Display (FPD) Conference March 6-8 at the Hilton Torrey Pines in La Jolla, Calif.
  
• Circuit City Heralds Vista Launch With Online And In-Store Events
  
  by Alan Wolf, January 24, 2007
  Richmond, Va. — Circuit City will mark the long-awaited introduction of Microsoft’s new Vista operating system with launch parties in select stores and a special online event that will offer consumers an opportunity to chat with PC experts.
  
• Dealers Promoting Interest-Free Payments Over Price For Super Bowl
  
  by Alan Wolf, January 24, 2007
  New York — Following the margin drubbing they took during the holidays, retailers are focusing on interest-free promotions in their Super Bowl TV advertising campaigns rather than price.
  
• Wal-Mart Reorganizes Merchandising, Marketing Structure
  
  by Alan Wolf, January 24, 2007
  Bentonville, Ark. — Wal-Mart has restructured its merchandising and marketing functions to better align its merchants with key product areas and customer segments, the company announced today.
  
• As GPS Soars, Garmin to Advertise in Super Bowl
  
  By Amy Gilroy, January 24, 2007
  Olathe, Kan. — Noting that 2007 is expected to be a year of high growth for personal navigation devices (PNDs), Garmin announced it will air a commercial during the Super Bowl, marking the first time a consumer electronics company specializing in Personal Navigation Devices (PND) has advertised in the Super Bowl.
  
• Intel Adds Draft 11n To Centrino Duo
  
  By Doug Olenick, January 24, 2007
  Santa Clara, Calif. — Intel may have helped jump-start the adoption of pre-draft 802.11n Wi-Fi by computer vendors by including the technology in its upcoming Centrino Duo mobile chipsets.