Search

This article reports on the ouster of Hewlett-Packard chairman and CEO Carly Fiorina as of February 2005. Hewlett-Packard's chairman and CEO Carly Fiorina left earlier this month with its board citing disagreements over her day-to-day management of the company. In a conference call with reporters, Patricia Dunn, director and non-executive chairman of the board, said the company's board asked Fiorina to step down. The decision, which the board has been deliberating for weeks and longer, centered on questions of execution, not the company's strategic direction or financial results. The search for Fiorina's replacement begins immediately. In the interim, Robert Wayman, chief financial officer and 36-year Hewlett-Packard veteran, will step in as CEO, identifying his immediate responsibilities as executing on the strategy as it is laid out. Wayman noted that despite fierce competition from other PC vendors such as Dell and Gateway, the company's consumer PC business has made great progress. They have gone from substantial losses to reasonable profits, though there are still improvements to be made. The company's consumer imaging group has also performed well, reaching leading market shares in several categories. The enterprise and server business of Hewlett-Packard, on the other hand, have been a source of significant disappointments.

This article reports on the financial performance of Hewlett-Packard as of February 2005. Revenue for the personal systems group at Hewlett-Packard, namely desktop and notebook computers, increased 11 percent in the company's fiscal first quarter, rising to $6.9 billion,from $6.2 billion in the year-ago period. Earnings from operations for the group more than doubled to $147 million in the three months, ended January 31, from $61 million in 2003. Unit shipments for Hewlett-Packard's computer business climbed 12 percent in the first quarter year-on-year, reflecting stable average selling prices. Desk-top revenue rose 8 percent, hitting $3.8 billion, up from $3.5 billion in the first quarter a year earlier. Notebook revenue grew 9 percent to $2.3 billion, from $2.1 billion in the same period in 2003. Handhelds were up 15 percent to $290 million from $253 million. Operating profit margin for the segment rose to 2.1 percent, said Hewlett-Packard. Sales in Hewlett-Packard's imaging and printing group did not match the computer side, with revenue rising only 3 percent in the first quarter, reaching $6 billion, compared with $5.9 billion year-over-year. Consolidated net income in the first quarter moved up to $943 million, less than 1 percent higher than the $936 million recorded in the same three months the previous year. The increase was fueled by revenue gains across all the company's businesses. First-quarter profit was held down by $115 million in special item charges.

This article reports on the introduction of several new models of digital cameras in the U.S. as of February 7, 2005. Seeking to draw an early spotlight, digital camera makers introduced several new 2005 models, principally courting the entry and mid-level consumer. Adesso announced its first slate of Umax-branded digital still and video cameras, aimed at the sub-$400 end of the market. The accessories manufacturer agreed to distribute, service and support Umax branded cameras in July 2004. The first fruits of that agreement ship in February 2005 in two lines. The AstraCani family will target more novice users while the PowerCam product line will offer more advanced features. Canon's latest PowerShot claims to live up to its namesake, consuming less power than its predecessor for an equal number than its predecessor for an equal number of shots. The 3.2-megapixel PowerShot A510 serves to replace the A75. The camera can take 300 photos with the LCD on, on a pair of AA batteries. Casio announced a new member in its Exilim Pro line, emphasizing a series of enhanced movie recording features that complement its still photo features. To complement the video recording, Casio incorporated several movie shooting modes and in-camera movie editing in the P505.

This article reports on three voice-over Internet protocol (IP) service providers that have partnered with Uniden to work with the company's IP-enabled UIP1868 multi-handset cordless telephone as of January 2005. Uniden's IP phone offering will be the first retail IP hardware programmed to work across several VoIP platforms in the U.S., in this case with the providers Primus, SunRocket and BroadVoice. According to CEO Al Silverberg, the company specifically eschewed exclusive partnerships in favor of as expansive an offering as possible. In contrast, other vendors like VTech have sought higher profile, yet exclusive, VoIP partnerships with Vonage and AT&T. All of the IP telephony hardware currently on the market--with the exception of Universal Serial Bus telephones for computer-based soft telephone applications--are programmed to place calls across only one network. If a user decides to switch service providers, they have to buy additional hardware, a situation Uniden sought to avoid by including as many as providers as possible in one product, Silverberg said. The UIP1868 can place calls over both the Public Switched Telephone Network and one of the three aforementioned IP networks, uses 5.8-gigahertz digital technology and is expandable up to 10 handsets. The base unit, which features a built-in terminal adapter, plugs into a broadband modem. It will ship in early 2005 for a suggested retail price of $199.

This article reports on the use of a This Is Your Life theme by the firm Texas Instruments (TI) to demonstrate how its technologies have impacted the household electronics customer. TI CEO Richard Templeton took attendees at his 2005 International Consumer Electronics Show keynote through a tour of where TI chips and technology are now and where they are headed. In the here and now, Templeton was joined by NFL Hall of Famer and former Oakland Raider Howie Long to hail the success of TI digital light pipe (DLP) display technology against its flat-panel rivals. Long, who compared his move from Villanova University co the Raiders as like going from a monastery to Rahway Prison, noted the rapid advance of high definition programming, particularly in sports broadcasting, Long predicted before attempting to abscond with a DLP projector. Templeton then highlighted his company's DLP Cinema projection technology, trotting out DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg. Katzenberg praised the digital revolution's impact on animation and said the next mountain to scale was digitally distributing and displaying content in theaters to beat back competition from improving home theaters. If consumers hunger for mobile content, Templeton noted that by 2007 cellphones will use TI new Hollywood chip to receive and display digital broadcast TV.

This section previews several camcorders to be introduced by several consumer electronics companies at an International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2005. Canon will refresh two of its MiniDV lines at the show--the entry-level ZR line and the higher-end Elura lineup--with a total of six new models. All of the new camcorders will incorporate a high-resolution 16:9 mode that uses the full width of the charged-coupled device and a true letter-box preview on the LCD screen for an accurate view of what is being recorded. They will also feature an LCD back-lighting button for improved viewing, electronic image stabilization, and Canon's DIGIC DV technology for processing video and still images separately for improved quality. Hitachi will introduce three new DVD camcorders, its fifth generation, at CES. According to Jeff Fochtman, product manager, the entire line features 16:9 recording, improved circuitry for a 20 percent noise reduction over previous models, and improved power consumption, and are ten percent smaller than 2003's camcorders. Samsung will introduce three new camcorders at CES, courting three distinct users. The company will also update its Duo-Cam digital still/MiniDV video camera with its third generation model, the SC-D6550.

This article reports that after encouraging news from the market research firm IDC, which put camera company Kodak within 10,000 units of displacing Sony at the top of the category in the third quarter of 2004, Kodak hit the Consumer Electronics Show with its first Wireless-Fidelity camera and printer product line in addition to several new cameras and a portable image viewer. Kodak's EasyShare One will be the capstone of a new generation of EasyShare digital cameras and was positioned by a company spokesman as a transition product, moving the category from point and shoot to point and share photography. The product will work with an accessory Wireless-Fidelity card which lets the camera connect to home and public 802.11b networks. The company will offer a firm-ware update in the third quarter of 2005 to permit direct connections via hotspots that require Wireless Encryption Protocol key authentication. Once Wireless-Fidelity-enabled, the camera can connect to Kodak's Ofoto Web site for uploading and e-mailing photos or for wirelessly transferring images to networked devices. Consumers can also view existing Ofoto albums on the camera's 3-inch touch screen liquid crystal display but the camera cannot connect to third-party photo sites.

This article reports that as voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) technology affects the line between data and voice, a similar eliding of distinctions is occurring in the equipment market as traditional voice vendors are integrating data technologies into their products, and data suppliers pour voice technologies in their own lines. During the International Consumer Electronics Show in January 2005 suppliers will introduce products for consumers and small-office users, who will be confronted with a host of new VOIP-enabled equipment, from simple telephone adapters to multi-handset cordless phones and IP-based videophones. Giant International, under its new Tao brand, will introduce the multi-handset Cordless Dualphone, a combination VOIP/Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) cordless using 2.4 gigahertz digital frequency hopping spread spectrum technology. The unit, for a suggested retail price of $129, ships in the first quarter of 2005 and is expandable up to four handsets. The phones base station connects to a personal computer via Universal Serial Bus for placing VOIP calls and plugs into a RJ11 jack for landline calling. The computer must be on for VOIP calls but does not have to be on for PSTN calls. The phone is targeted to personal computer owners running a soft phone VOIP client software.

This article discusses the findings of the Consumer Electronics Association's (CEA) online survey of digital camera owners in 2004. According to the survey findings, consumers' principle desire when camera shopping is finding a model that produces high-quality images. CEA also found that consumers were satisfied with the quality of images they were getting from their digital cameras. Consumers are less sanguine about the battery life of their cameras, ranking it last among features they were satisfied with. The survey also quantified the looming challenge confronting the imaging industry; how to store, organize, archive and monetize the billions upon billions of digital photos that will be snapped over the next decade. The survey found that camera owners take 47 digital photos a month--a rate of photographic activity higher than traditional film camera use. CEA also found that price remains the No.1 barrier to digital camera ownership, despite significant declines in unit pricing. Other consumers surveyed said they didn't take enough pictures to warrant a purchase. Only 12 percent of non-owners said they found the technology too confusing and 16 percent were still in thrall to film photography. Moreover, CEA found that when it comes to imaging software, what's in the box is good enough. Of camera owners, 84 percent said they used the software included in their cameras and 40 percent use after-market software. Furthermore, CEA found that product satisfaction was strongest when the camera was purchased with the aid of a knowledgeable sales associate.

This article reports on the 7.4 percent increase in advertising activity by cordless telephone dealers during the first ten months of 2004. The ad push was centered squarely around 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz products, which accounted for a combined 89 percent of all cordless phones advertised through October, compared to only 80 percent during the same period in 2003, per month on behalf of gigahertz technology versus 1,591 for 900MHz. The gigahertz technologies were advertised 19 percent more frequently in 2004 versus the year-ago period, while 900MHz advertising activity fell 40 percent during that time. Retailers placed an average of 7,436 advertisements per month during the 10-month 2004 period on behalf of gigahertz technology versus an average of 946 for 900MHz. In 2003 during that period, dealers averaged 6,211 advertisements per month on behalf of gigahertz technology versus 1,591 for 900MHz. The averaged advertised price for the 10-most-advertised 900MHz phones through September was $28, while the top-10 gigahertz phones were advertised for an average of $58. In the popular 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz frequencies, the most heavily promoted brands through the 12 months ending September were Panasonic, General Electric, VTech, Uniden, AT&T and Motorola. Figures presented in this article were derived from a Beyen International survey of advertising in more than 90 U.S. newspapers and catalogs.

This article focuses on the decision of cordless telephone manufacturers to incorporate Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) and cellular technologies into their products that will be introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2005. While cordless vendors have long acknowledged the impact of mobile phones on handset designs and styles, cordless feature sets will borrow heavily from cellular competition. Several major manufacturers, for example, will incorporate for the first time, or expand their selection of products, with downloadable ringtones, large color liquid crystal displays screens, icon-based menus, photo caller ID and slim form factors. Cordless vendors will also take the next logical step by integrating cellular phones directly into landline products. Several other cordless manufacturers will offer products with a similar ability to place cellular and landline calls using a multi-handset cordless phone system, albeit with several differences in how the two technologies connect. In 2005, cordless makers will dive into the VOIP equipment market. Uniden has already announced plans to demonstrate a multi-handset system with the analog-to-digital terminal adapter built into the base station. The company will demonstrate its VOIP solution at the show using its two-line TRU5885 5.8GHz digital system connected to a cable modem and delivering VOIP calling to its accessory handsets.

This article presents information on the home-telephone products to be introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2005. The wireless networking manufacturer ParkerVision will feature its first entry into the cordless phone marker with the introduction of the ParkerVision Cordless Telephone. It features a 2-mile open-field signal range powered by the company's D2D extended range wireless technology, which the company says is also capable of sending the signal through walls and floors. Meanwhile, Sakar will introduce its own Berry series of hands-free corded phone and organizer. It will be available in four colors: BlueBerry, GreyBerry, GrapeBerry and StrawBerry. The Berries ship with a hands-free headset. For a suggested $19.99, the organizer/phone can deliver a variety of personal digital assistant-functions, including storing dozens to phone numbers, e-mail addresses and dates. It features password protection to secure stored contacts. Uniden will offer a 2.4GHz digital system expandable to four handsets which feature a sliding keypad and a cellphone-inspired design. The DMX776, for a suggested $79.99, features caller ID/call waiting, baby monitoring, three-way conferencing, voice-mail-waiting indicator light in both the handset and base, a keypad lock, and handset-to-handset call transfer.

The article deals with the plan of Best Buy to leverage its brisk business in digital imaging hardware as an entry into the world of photo services. At the end of September 2004, the retailer rolled out an online service that lets consumers upload their digital images to Best Buy's Image Lab web site and have them printed by Best Buy. The prints can be picked up in-store in three days or mailed back to the customer for a shipping fee. Brian Stone, program manager, remarked that the company's goal is to try to establish Best Buy as a processing destination. The online effort is running parallel to in-store printing via Noritsu minilabs and Kodak Picture Maker kiosks placed in select stores. The company began testing the processing waters in May 2003. Best Buy's online service is run by its Siberra subsidiary, which was acquired by the company's Canadian arm to offer in-house digital printing expertise. According to Stone, while Best Buy can handle both analog and digital sources, the majority of its business is digital. While the traditional film processing market is dominated by drug store, food store and mass merchant chains, Stone noted that thanks to the volume of digital-imaging hardware moved through Best Buy, his chain was well positioned to court the expanding customer base of digital-camera owners.

The article provides information on the digital cameras introduced by Concord and Olympus in the U.S. market in October 2004. As the holiday selling season hovers on the horizon, Concord and Olympus announced new additions to their digital camera lineups, setting their sites on a feature-driven consumer base. Concord introduced several new camera lines from 4-megapixel and 5- megapixel/3x optical zoom models to a $29.99 VGA camera. The 5-megapixel 5340z will ship in November and features a 2-inch LCD, MPEG-4 video capture at QVGA resolution up to 30 frames per second (fps), 16MB of internal memory and an SD card slot for a suggested $249.99. The 4-megapixel 43402 also ships in November and features a QVGA movie mode up to 24 fps, a long shutter mode up to eight seconds and a self-portrait mirror for a suggested $149.99. The company also refreshed its 3-megapixel lineup with three new models, two of which will sell for under $100. Olympus introduced a new digital camera and a series of interconnected peripherals aimed at liberating common imaging tasks from personal computer (PC) connectivity. Called the Olympus Total Imaging Solution, the introductions include a new digital camera, a hard drive, a 4-inch by 6-inch dye sublimation printer and forthcoming DVD burner. All, save the DVD burner, will ship in January 2005. No ship date was announced for the burner.

This article highlights the launch of several models of digital camera in the U.S. in September 2004. Canon expanded its lineup of consumer and pro digital cameras along with a new photo printer designed to connect to a television for computer-free digital photo viewing and printing. Among the new introductions is the new 5-megapixel SD20. It will ship in four new colors and it features an all-glass, fixed focal length lens, a 6.5x digital zoom and stainless steel and aluminum alloys exteriors. Concord demonstrated a new wireless image transfer technology for digital cameras called Wireless Image Transfer (WIT) at the Photokina photo trade show in Cologne, Germany in September 2004. The demo involves a prototype 2-inch by 2-inch WIT-enabled WiFi USB device that connects to a digital camera's USB port to wirelessly transmit images. The technology is being evaluated for use as a stand-alone accessory to a camera, as well as an integrated technology to produce a WiFi enabled camera. Olympus threw its hat into the consumer digital SLR ring with the announcement of the Evolt E-300, a model based off the Four Thirds System and employing the company's Zuiko Digital Specific family of interchangeable lenses. The E-300 will ship in December 2004. The 8-megapixel E-300 includes a compact, Zuiko Digital 14-45mm lens for a 3.2x optical zoom. It features five scene program modes and 15 select scene program modes with descriptions on the liquid crystal display to guide a user through using the various modes. Oregon Scientific landed the rights to the Barbie brand from Mattel Inc. and will introduce a new Barbie digital camera in November 2004. The VGA camera will sell for a suggested $34.99 and be initially available in Target. It offers 8MB of internal memory capable of storing 20 VGA images or 104 lower-resolution images.

The article focuses on Song Corp. that heralds the launch of two new Qualia television models. The high-end Qualia boutique store, located on the lower level of the Sony Style store on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, will provide one-to-one product demos of Sony's higher-end models. The store houses entire Qualia line, which includes the 004, an Silicon X-tal Reflective Display (SXRD) home theater front projector, the 016 digital camera, the 017 MiniDisc player, and the 010 headphones. Also, two new entries, the Qualia 005 and 006 televisions were announced at the launch. The 46-inch Qualia 005 is the world's first LCD flat-panel television equipped with a Triluminos LED technology for back-lighting the panel and it offers 1920 by 1080 high definition resolution and it is expected to sell around $12,000. Whereas, the Qualia 006 is a 70-inch rear-projection TV offering the company's SXRD technology and offers 1,920 by 1,080 high definition resolution and it is expected to sell around $10,000.

The article presents information on four new inkjet photo printers unveiled by Canon Corp. The launch of these four inkjet photo printers by Canon is considered as a step taken to gain market share against rivals in the photo inkjet printer market. These four inkjet photo printers and three photo all-in-ones is under the new global brand, Pixma. All offer PictBridge-compatibility and include a second front-feeding paper cassette that accommodates letter-sized media in addition to a standard auto sheet feeder located on top of the printer, which prints all sizes up to letter sized. A description of the key features of the printer iP4000R is given in the article. Also, a description of the three new Pixma-branded photo all in ones: Namely, MP130, MP780 and MP750 is given in the article. Both MP750 and MP780 will be shipped in October, featuring PictBridge compatibility and the company's five-color ContrastPLUS ink system. The MP750 will have a suggested retail of $249.99. And, the MP780 will have a retail of $299.99 which adds a super G3 fax modem for color and black and white faxing with a 250 page memory.

The article presents information on different digital camera vendors who have come up with their high-end products. The firm Konica Minolta unveiled a high-end fixed-lens model to its lineup with the latest DiMAGE A 200. The 8-megapixel A200 incorporated Anti-Shake in addition to a rotating 1.8-inch LCD screen and a 7xoptical/4x digital zoom lens. One of the significant aspect of the A200 is that it offers automatic and manual exposure controls. Also, an Ultra High Speed mode that it used can capture up five frames at 2.3 fps in high-resolution RAW mode. Another firm Nikon unveiled two new, high-end fixed-lens models: Namely, the Coolpix 8800 and a mainstream compact camera, the 4 megapixel Coolpix 4800. Both these models 8800 and 8400 offers Nikon's D-lighting option. The firm also incorporated In-Camera Red-Eye Fix in both models to automatically correct most cases of red-eye when in the red-eye reduction flash mode. The article also gives some of the key features of these different models.

This article reports on the launch of Hewlett-Packard's digital entertainment and imaging products intended to further the company's strategy of moving it from products to experiences. Company chief executive officer Carly Fiorina officially launched the company's set of video products at a press conference held in Miami, Florida. In addition to customizable iPod tattoos, the company's first branded ink products, new paper and media debuted with digital cameras, photo printers and scanners, as well as a strategic relationship with MTV that includes global sponsorship of the Video Music Awards in America. The later is intended to push Hewlett Packard's products to its target demographic, which are the 12-year-olds to 34-year-olds, whom Fiorina described as desiring an emotional experience with their entertainment products. The imaging products will include three new Photosmart Instant Share digital cameras, three new photo printers, two compact 4-inch by 6-inch photo printers, three all-in-ones, a new scanner and new photo paper and media. Just over a year after terminating its Phogenix joint venture with Kodak, aimed at capturing the retail printing dollar, Vyomesh Joshi, executive vice president of the imaging and printing group, said that there is no reason for any consumer to go to a retail store to get their pictures.

This article features several digital cameras. In addition to concrete specs, higher resolutions, larger liquid crystal display screens, and faster performance, vendors are allegedly offering thin, colorful and artistically shaped designs that defy the usual specsmenship. Casio introduced three new models in its Exilim line of ultra-compact digital cameras. Allegedly, the company hailed its new flagship, the Exilim Card EX-SlOO, as the thinnest camera on the market with an optical lens. The 3.2-megapixel EX-SlOO features a 2.8x optical zoom using Casio's new ceramic lens design, which employs the transparent ceramic Lumerica developed by Murata Manufacturing. On the other hand, Canon made replacements across its line, swapping out models in its G-series and A-series and adding a model to its S-series. PowerShot G6 replaces the G5 model, adding a 30 percent faster zoom and a 55 percent faster autofocus, while losing 10 percent of its predecessor's size. The G6 features a 270 degree vari-angled 2.0-inch liquid crystal display and a 4x optical/4.1x digital zoom lens with macro focusing down to 2 inches, simultaneous RAW/Joint Photographic Experts Group image capture, 12 shooting modes and an Intelligent Orientation Sensor that automatically rotates vertical shots during playback. Meanwhile, Canon will swap out the A70 with the 4-megapixel A85. Featuring a 3.2x optical zoom lens, 1.8-inch liquid crystal display and 13 scene modes, the A85 is shipping for an estimated street price of $299.99.

U.S. camera manufacturer Fujifilm introduced five new digital cameras in August 2004, including a new product series aimed at repeat buyers looking to upgrade their older cameras. The new E-series models will fit between the company's A-series entry-level models and slim form factor F-series. The new cameras include the FinePix E500, E510 and E550. All three cameras feature a two-inch liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, PictBridge compatibility and a 3.2x optical Fujinon wide-angle zoom lens. The company also added two models to its existing S-series of traditionally styled, ultra-zoom models. The S3100 and S5100 both feature 4.0 megapixel resolution with an improved viewfinder and LCD for low-light viewing. The S3100, which replaces the S3000, offers fully automatic exposure controls with a 6x optical/3.4x digital zoom. The S5100, which replaces the S5000, is equipped with manual controls and a 10x optical/3.6x digital zoom. Fujifilm also updated the specifications and announced availability for its high-end digital single-lens reflex camera, the FinePix S3 Pro. New features of FinePix S3 Pro include adjustable range and several film simulation modes.

The article relates the retail sales success of DCR-TRV22 MiniDV camcorder from Sony Corp. from June 2003 through May 2004. "This camcorder was our first significant compact unit with still capture capability in our entry-level MiniDV offerings," said Linda Vuolo, director of camcorder products for Sony. The unit snapped VGA-quality (640 by 480) photos that, while small next to the galloping megapixel standards inherited from the digital still camera market, resonated with video consumers interested in value-added features. "The success of the TRV22 can be attributed mostly to its feature set," Vuolo noted. The TRV22, which carried a suggested retail price of $699, featured an MPEG Movie EX mode, which allows users to capture MPEG1 format video directly to a Memory Stick to the capacity of the card. It also included several of Sony's proprietary video features, including Super SteadyShot image stabilization, analog-to-digital conversion, Super NightShot infrared shooting, and an InfoLithium battery with the AccuPower Meter System, which displays remaining battery life in minutes. "The TRV22 was 28 percent smaller and 22 percent lighter compared to similar models from the prior year," Vuolo said. INSETS: Success Story: Sony TRV22 MiniDV Camcorder;Top 10 Camcorders.

This article features the digital cameras introduced by camera vendors DXG, Konica Minolta and Panasonic in July 2004. DXG announced the 3-megapixel DXG-308U that ships with an underwater housing which can be submerged in 5 meters of water. The camera also features 16MB of internal memory, an SD/MMC slot, 4x digital zoom and a 1.5 liquid crystal display (LCD) screen. Meanwhile, Konica introduced four new digital cameras, two in its Z-series and two in X-series. The 3.2 megapixel DiMage Z10 features a 0.5 second start-up time, 8x optical/4x digital zoom lens, Predictive Focus Control and a new energy saving design which allows the camera to capture up to 500 frames with the included AA alkaline batteries. The 4-megapixel DiMAGE Z3 features an Anti-Shake System, 12x optical/4x digital zoom lens and Rapid AF with Predictive Focus Control. In the compact line, the 5-megapixel X50 features a 2.8x non-protruding optical zoom lens with a new sliding lens cover, a 2 inch LCD screen, a half second start up time. The 3-megapixel X31 features a 3x optical/4x digital zoom lens and sports 0.1 second shutter release time. Finally, Panasonic introduced five new Lumix ultar-zoom digital cameras including the 3-megapixel DMC-FZ3, the 4-megapixel FZ15 and the 5-megapixel FZ20.

This article reports that with the rapid roll out of Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone service from cable providers, telecommunication firms and start-ups will use wireless Wi-Fi networking to free telephone from wired modems and wired phones in 2004. Early entrants into the market will be Net2Phone, Viper Networks and Vonage. The underlying functionality of Wi-Fi VoIP is identical to standard VoIP, Voice calls are converted to data packets that are then sent over the Internet and finally onto the public switched telephone network. In the case of Wi-Fi telephony, the adapter will be built directly into the handset, allowing the phone to automatically convert voice to data packets that are transmitted to the Internet via an in-home or in-building wireless network or via a public wireless hot spot. Wi-Fi will deliver greater portability for VoIP users, letting consumers bring the phone to hot spots or wireless networks across the U.S., although it can not offer the true nationwide service of a mobile phone. Vonage will enter the Wi-Fi telephone market, though it will court a different demographic than IDT. It will be seeking early adopters who own their own wireless home networks.

This article reports that an increasing portion of sales are coming from DVD camcorders in the U.S. in 2004. According to Jeff Fochtman, product manager of home electronics division at Hitachi America, the DVD camcorder segment has taken the market lead for the first time in format share over $600. According to consumer data from NDP Group, overall unit sales are down 4.3 percent from June 2003 through May 2004 versus the year-ago period. Dollars are down more significantly, 13.5 percent, over the same period. Digital camcorders are becoming very popular and are replacing analog camcorders at a higher speed than the industry expected, not only at the low end, but at higher retail price points, according to Rudy Vitti, national marketing manager of optical group at Panasonic. Inside the MiniDV camcorder category, units with flash memory card slots are growing rapidly, with 32 percent of the units sold through May 2004 having slots, up 29 percent from 2003. According to a Canon spokesman, the ability to take quality still images with the camcorder is becoming an important step-up feature for high-end customers. He noted that the company was planning a full-court marketing press through the end of 2004 to emphasize Canon camcorders' still capability.

This article reports on the launch of mini digital video camcorders from Canon and Panasonic, as of April 2004. Canon's three new MiniDV megapixel camcorders--the Elura 70, 65 and 60--are scheduled to ship in April 2004. The 1.33-megapixel video cameras share a number of features in common, including image stabilization, a 2.5-inch tilting liquid crystal display screen, an automatic slow shutter speed for low-light shooting and a Night mode. The models also feature a skin detail mode that automatically softens details when shooting close-ups of people to reduce skin imperfections, in addition to an end search feature that locates the end of the last recorded scene with the press of a button. Panasonic will ship several new models in its Palmcorder Multicam line, all featuring newly designed layout and controls. Among the new controls are a DirectMode Dial for use in the digital still camera mode, which lets users select the desired digital camera model, such as record, playback, card record or card playback. All the models will feature the MagicPix feature for low-light shooting and Panasonic's Digital Electronic Image Stabilization.

This article reports on the test marketing of voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony in the U.S. Circuit City's announcement that it would sell Vonage's self-installed VoIP kit marks the first national rollout of a VoIP product at retail. VoIP accounts for only a fraction of the residential telecommunications market,but it has been steadily gaining subscribers. Major retailers are test marketing VoIP products in partnership with pure-lay VoIP service providers and anticipate partnering with cable multi-system operators. Best Buy has been test-marketing Vonage in Minnesota, California and Florida. RadioShack has been testing Vonage in the greater Philadelphia market. CompUSA began test marketing Viper Networks' vPhone product, a phone that connects to a computer to place VoIP calls. VoIP works by converting analog voice signals to data and sending that data as packets over the Internet. That data is then reconverted to analog voice signals to travel over regular phone lines to its final destination. The Vonage service lets consumers with broadband Internet access make local, toll and domestic long distance calls over the Internet using their regular landline home phone.

This article presents information on the T-Flash cellular phone memory card introduced by SanDisk in the U.S. The card combines the space-saving benefit of embedded flash memory with the flexibility of removable flash-storage cards. It allows handset manufacturers to incorporate significant amounts of removable storage capacity into small handsets. The company also envisions retailers selling memory upgrades at the point of purchase. T-Flash will differ from other removable cards geared toward cellphones. T-Flash memory cards are meant to be semi-permanent. They will be inserted beneath a phone's battery, not inserted into an external slot. For that reason, the cards will be used to store applications meant to reside on a phone for long periods. Executive Rex Sabio said the T-Flash card is ideal to transport subscriber data and settings from an older T-Flash enabled phone to a new one or if a user finds himself in need of more memory, the cards provide a way to increase a phone's storage capacity. T-Flash has about half the footprint of a SIM card and features built-in content protection for content downloads. The first phones scheduled to ship with T-Flash memory are the E1000 and A1000 from Motorola.

Predicts the continued increase in the sales of digital cameras in the market, according to NPD Group. Market shares of Sony, Kodak and Canon; Entry-level digital cameras offered by Argus Camera; Digital camera released by Hewlett-Packard Co.

Reports on the flash memory devices introduced by vendors during the 2004 PMA trade show in Las Vegas, Nevada. SD PRO memory cards from Delkin; 60x speed-rated SD cards from Lexar Media; Optima line of SD and CompactFlash cards from PNY Technologies.

Presents information on various digital cameras introduced at the Purchasing Management Association 2004 show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cost of the Eye-Q 5062 from Concord; Features of the EX-P600 Exilim Pro from Casio; Models of DiMAGE brand from Konica-Minolta.

Focuses on the digital cameras to be unveiled at the 2004 annual trade show and convention of the Photo Marketing Association. Plan of Concord to launch its entry-level camera line; Release of PowerShots cameras from Canon; Expansion of the RTUNE-enabled digital cameras of Kyocera Optics.

Reports on an exclusive distribution agreement signed by World Wide Licenses (WWL) with phone maker Uniden for the retail penetration of its Polaroid-branded digital camera lineup as of January 26, 2004. Terms of the agreement; Focus of the agreement on the U.S. consumer electronics market; Statement from Stephen Golden, executive vice president of sales and marketing at WWL, on their partnership with Spectra Merchandizing in bringing their products to the market.

Reports on the entry of Taiwanese consumer electronics manufacturer DXG into the North American digital camera market in 2004. Target market segment of the firm; Overview of its business strategy; Information on the digital cameras it will offer including the DXG-301V.

Reports on the keynote address given by Carly Fiorina, CEO of Hewlett-Packard, at the International Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas, Nevada in January 2004. Business strategy to be employed by the firm in the digital, mobile and virtual market; Highlight of her discussion on music piracy; Overview of its goal regarding digital rights protection.

Reports on several issues raised during the retail roundtable organized by the U.S. periodical "This Week in Consumer Electronics" at the International Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas, Nevada in January 2004. Sales in December 2003; Product shortages during the 2003 holiday season; Convergence in the consumer electronic and information technology markets.

Presents information on several products introduced by electronic companies. AV500 portable audio/video players of Archos; Media2Go, a device that reproduces music and video transferred from a personal computer created by Creative Labs; Camera/camcorder of Philips.

Announces the introduction of digital cameras by Sony in January 2004. Aim of the move; Features of the cameras.

Reports on the decision of Canon to introduce digital single lens reflect (SLR) cameras. Condition of the film-based SLR market; Number of digital SLR cameras sold in the U.S. in 2003; Retail price of the EOS Digital Rebel camera.

Reports on the impact of digital imaging as discussed at the 2003 InfoTrends Digital Imaging conference. Implications of digital technology for the photo industry; Effect of the increased sales of digital cameras on film cameras; Information on the Get the Picture online service of Fujifilm.

Reports on the rebate offered by Gateway on its 5-megapixel camera in 2003. Remarks from Paul Grupp, product manager of digital solutions; Reaction of some suppliers to the rebate; Plan to incorporate sophisticated technological differentiators in its products. INSET: Industry Reacts To Gateway Cams.

Reports on the market for digital cameras as of September 2003. Introduction of PowerShot digital camera by Canon; Features of digital cameras introduced by Umax Technologies; Move of Veo to expand its line of network cameras.

Reports on the plan of Thomson's residential telecom business, Atlinks to expand as of September 2003. Details on convergent technologies and networking products to be offered by the company under GE brand; Release of home phone products under the RCA brand; Comment from Lisa Castor, vice president at Atlinks North America, on the move of the company to redefine its strategy in the residential phone market.

Reports on a buyout opportunity offered by Thomson Consumer Electronics to its employees in North America. Strategies of the company to reduce its operating costs; Details of the buyout offering of Thomson; Information on a television joint venture company planned to established by Thomson.

Discusses issues on the implementation of wireless local number portability (LNP) to consumers in the U.S. in 2003. Deadline set for wireless carriers to offer LNP to consumers; Reaction of the Wireless Carrier Group (WCG) to the implementation; Members of WCG; Claim by WCG on a carrier's ability to remind customers of any outstanding obligations before terminating a contract; Reason telecommunication carriers are able to recover some of their up front investment in the customer without additional cost.

Provides information on cameras introduced by several vendors in August 2003 in New York. 8-megapixel camera for advanced amateurs from Sony; EOS Digital Rebel camera from Canon; DX6490 camera from Kodak.

Announces the launching of digital video disc-based Handycam camcorders from Sony in New York in 2003. Introduction of the company's MiniDV camcorder during a press conference in August 2003; Features of the camcorders; Prices.

Introduces the digital cameras and personal computers (PC) from Gateway in 2003. Price of the 2-mega-pixel DC-T20 camera; Features of the 5-megapixel DC-T50 camera; Description of the 4-megapixel DC-M40 and the 5-megapixel DC-M50; Features of the Gateway 700X and 500X Gaming PC.

Deals with the plan of cable multiple system operators to offer phone service and equipment through retailers according to analysts and manufacturers in the U.S. Move of cable companies to consider retail in selling voice services and equipment; Details on the triple play bundle according to Vamsi Sistla, senior technology analyst at ABI Research of the Oyster Bay in New York; Information on a cable modem installed by PacketCable.

Reports on the move of digital camera vendors to unveil their line of products as of August 18, 2003. Addition to Casio's QV line of digital cameras; Move of Concord Camera to introduce its consumer-level digital camera with internal Bluetooth connectivity; Announcement made by Fujifilm on its FinePix digital cameras.