Motorola is continuing its drive to broaden its business with the addition of several consumer electronics devices to its product portfolio.
At RetailVision earlier this month, the company showed CE and computer products. These included the simplefi, a wireless component that transmits MP3 music files stored on a PC or Internet radio to a home’s stereo system, said Vincent Izzo, Motorola’s director of home networking. The simplefi, which uses HomeRF wireless technology, plugs into a PCs USB port. Compatibility with other wireless standards is a possibility for future versions and with the different home networking standards.
“While this is not a traditional Motorola product it does go along with the company’s interest in broadband products,” Izzo said.
The simplefi will ship in October with a $399 suggested retail price.
The other product being highlighted was the DCP-500 home theater system. This combination device comes in two flavors. One featuring a single-disk DVD player, Dolby Digital decoder and an A/V receiver with a $699 suggested retail price. The higher-end model has a three-disc DVD changer and is expected to cost $899. Both are expected to ship in early 2002.
Future versions of the DCP-500 should have home network capability and the company is seriously considering adding personal video recording functionality, Izzo said.
