http://www.emailrepository.com/GL/gem/index.html
NEW RCA GEM LINE OF DIGITAL MEDIA PLAYERS
OFFERS A PERSONALIZED PALETTE OF
STYLISH OPTIONS FOR EVERY CONSUMER
Gem Line Features Bright Color Screens, Expandable Memory Slots,
Video & Photo Playback in an Affordable Price Range
New York, May 3, 2007 – Designed for the value-conscious consumer seeking the latest features and attractive styling, RCA Audio/Video today introduced the new RCA Gem Line of digital media players. This affordable series incorporates many high-end features typically found in more expensive mp3 players, including video and photo playback, expandable memory slots, portable data storage, and rugged designs ideal for intense workouts at the gym. The flash-based RCA Gem Line offers options to suit a wide range of needs and provides versatility in a world of mp3 players that tend to treat every consumer the same.
Named after precious gemstones, the new Gem Line includes a player for just about everyone. The line consists of the versatile RCA Opal (a stylish music and video player), the compact RCA Pearl (a combination USB thumb drive and music player), the RCA Jet (rugged and splash-proof for the gym), and the RCA Jet Stream (with wireless headphones incorporating stereo wireless technology).
"Since its launch eight years ago, the portable music player has become a must-have gadget," said Dan Collishaw, Chief Operating Officer of RCA Audio/Video. "In a highly competitive environment, we at RCA are focused on developing unique options to differentiate us from other mp3 devices. With sales of portable music players expected to stay strong throughout the rest of the decade, we know that there will be a growing market for targeted and affordable products and the new RCA Gem Line fits that bill perfectly."
Versatile RCA Opal: Videos, Music, and Memories for your Purse
Featuring a modern and stylish design, the 2GB RCA Opal (Model M4002) stores up to 680 songs or over 8 hours of video*, and also serves as a digital showcase for favorite photos. The fashionable Opal features a deep sea-blue and white finish and sleek ultra-slim design to easily fit in a small purse or pocket. Feminine flair and ease-of-use, combined with photo storage capability, make this player an ideal gift for Mom.
The Opal is not just stylish, it's a perfect digital multimedia solution. For instant access to millions of digital songs, the RCA Opal is compatible with leading music download and subscription services, including eMusic, Yahoo! Music, Rhapsody and Napster. The player works with a wide range of audio file formats such as mp3, WMA, and protected WMA files. Opal can also play back audio books from Audible.com and it supports video playback, displays a variety of image files, and enables viewing of photo files individually or as a slideshow.
The lightweight and attractive Opal has a color 1.5-inch OLED screen, which in addition to showing photos, videos and song data, also displays volume levels and remaining battery life. The built-in rechargeable lithium battery will play for 15 hours on a single charge.
The RCA Opal ships with a full accessory kit, including a USB connector cable, a stereo line-in recording cable, a Music Management CD-ROM containing Yahoo! Music™ Jukebox, and an offer for 50 free mp3 downloads from eMusic. For added convenience, the Opal also comes with soft, silicone rubber earbuds that fit snugly in the ear and significantly reduce background noise. The Opal has a rechargeable built-in battery.
Available now, the Opal (Model M4002) carries a suggested retail price of $75 and weighs less than 1.5 ounces. Other RCA Opal models with different memory sizes and suggested retail prices will be available throughout the year.
RCA Pearl: Perfect for Business Professionals & Students
The 1GB RCA Pearl (Model TH1101) is a small, discrete music player that doubles as a USB thumb drive data storage device. Available in a stylish midnight-blue finish, this lipstick-sized player is packed with features that make it an ideal work companion. Users can boost memory capacity to 3GB with a microSD card (sold separately), a handy option for storing even more content. A high-speed built-in USB connector offers a quick and hassle-free way of transferring content directly to and from the PC without cables. For added convenience, the tiny unit also comes with an internal voice recorder for recording meetings, lectures, and personal memos.
The RCA Pearl is compatible with most secure music download services (but not subscription services) and holds up to 340 songs*, so users can fill this little beauty with plenty of their favorite tunes. The player supports mp3, WMA, WMDRM-9 audio formats, plus audio books from Audible. One standard AAA battery provides an impressive 15 hours of playback. To personalize the player, consumers can select one of seven backlight colors for the multi-language LCD display.
Available now, the RCA Pearl (Model TH1101) has a suggested retail price of $49 and weighs less than 1.5 ounces. Additional RCA Pearl models with different memory sizes and suggested retail prices will be available throughout the year.
Take RCA Jet to the Gym
The rugged 1GB RCA Jet (Model S2001) can stand up to your rough workouts at the gym or on a hike outdoors. Although it weighs less than 1.5 ounces, the Jet is built tough and splash-resistant and features a built-in stopwatch and body mass index calculator. The Jet is small enough to go anywhere and tough enough to take the pounding of a strenuous workout – indoors or out. Users can track their lap times or view song data on the RCA Jet's easy-to-read single color OLED display that can also be electronically rotated 180-degrees to make it easier to change songs while wearing it on your arm.
The RCA Jet offers instant access to millions of digital songs and is compatible with leading music download and subscription services, including eMusic, Yahoo! Music, Rhapsody and Napster. RCA Jet works with a wide range of audio file formats such as mp3, WMA and protected WMA files and can also play back audio books from Audible.com. The Jet will hold up to 340 songs.* A digital FM tuner with 20 presets is an added bonus for listening to and recording favorite radio programs. The Jet's rechargeable built-in lithium battery offers 15 hours of playback time from a single charge.
The RCA Jet (Model S2001) is available now and has a suggested retail price of $69.
The unit comes with an armband, wristband, silicone earphones with sport clips, and a Music Management CD-ROM containing Yahoo! Music™ Jukebox. Additional models of the RCA Jet with different memory sizes and suggested retail prices will be available throughout the year.
Coming Soon: Jet Stream – The New Way to Go Wireless
Coming later this year, the RCA Jet Stream has all the same features of the RCA Jet, but also incorporates wireless headphones.
A big frustration for some people who listen to their digital media players during workouts is dealing with headphone cords. Integrated with Kleer™ Wireless technology, the new RCA Jet Stream will solve that problem with a unique wireless system that seamlessly delivers crystal-clear music from player to headphones without the need to connect the two with wires.
Kleer Wireless technology conserves battery life, minimizes interference from other sources and delivers improved fidelity with "lossless" wireless music transmission from player to headphones. With better dynamic range than FM radio or digital TV broadcasts, the new RCA Jet Stream digital media player will soon offer a solution long desired by workout fans. The RCA Jet Stream (Model S2501), will have 1GB of memory and will ship later this year. Suggested retail pricing and other details will be released closer to the product's launch.
For more information on any of the RCA Gem Line digital media players, please visit www.rcaaudiovideo.com.
*Assumes audio content is encoded at 128 kbps in mp3 format and an average length of 3 minutes per song. Actual playtime, number of songs, and available storage space will vary depending on system requirements, bitrate, and other factors.
Certain statements in this press release, including any discussion of management expectations for future periods, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements due to changes in global economic, business, competitive market and regulatory factors. More detailed information on the potential factors that could affect the financial results of Thomson is contained in Thomson's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
About Thomson - Partner to the Media & Entertainment Industries
Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS) provides services, systems and technology to help its Media & Entertainment clients – content creators, content distributors and users of its technology – realize their business goals and optimize their performance in a rapidly changing technology environment. The Group is the preferred partner to the Media & Entertainment Industries through its Technicolor, Grass Valley, RCA and Thomson brands. For more information: www.thomson.net.
PRESS CONTACTS
Golden Loder Associates
Lorena D'Amato
Telephone: (908) 889-8300 x106 or ldamato@goldenloder.com
Pam Golden Loder
Telephone: (908) 889-8300 x122 or pgloder@goldenloder.com