Philips Ships Velo 1 and Its Accessories to Expanded Retail Channels
PC EXPO, NEW YORK, — June 17, 1997 — The Philips Mobile Computing Group, a division of Philips Electronics North America Corporation, today announced that it has expanded the retail outlets where the Velo(TM) 1 is available. Philips has added both national and regional outlets to its list of Velo retailers. The regional outlets are in the Tri-state area and the West Coast.
This announcement expands the retail distribution to five national and eight regional channels. The Velo 1 accessories, announced today in a separate release, can also be purchased at these retail outlets. The Velo 1 has been available at CompUSA, Mobile Planet, and PC Zone since April 8, 1997.
"The reaction to the Velo 1 is the best we've had yet to any handheld PC. People really like the single solution with the dock, adapter and built-in modem," said Jimmy Garson, co-owner of Datavision Computer Video in Manhattan. "We sold out within three days of the initial shipment. We're having a hard time keeping them on the shelves."
"The expansion of Velo into so many well-known outlets demonstrates the quality of the product and the consumer acceptance of it," said Alan Soucy, general manager of the Philips Mobile Computing Group. "All of our retail channels continue to sell and request large volumes of the Velo 1."
Retail Channels
National retail channels:
* CDW
* CompUSA
* CompUSA Direct
* Mobile Planet
* PC Connect
* PC Zone
Regional retail channels:
* Datavision Computer Video (Tri-state area)
* Elek Tek (Mid-west region)
* Good Guys (Western region)
* IBS, International Business Solutions (Tri-state area)
* J&R (Tri-state area)
* MicroCenter (Mid-west and western region)
* Rockwell Computer Systems (Tri-state area)
The Velo 1
The Velo 1 handheld PC provides users with a lightweight, portable and familiar solution for mobile computing, communications and information management. It offers the best performance, most highly integrated communications, and superior expandability of all the handheld PCs based on Windows CE. The Velo 1 has an estimated street price of $699 for the 4MB version and $739 for the 4MB with NiMH Rechargeable Battery Pack. Both Velo bundles come complete with a Velo Dock, AC Adapter, and built-in low power software modem.
Philips Velo 1 has been accepted as the premier handheld PC. In head-to-head reviews with competitors, the Velo 1 stands out with the most integrated communications, superior expandability, and fastest performance. PC Magazine has declared the Velo the "Editor's Choice" for handheld PCs; CNET considers it the "recommended," "must buy" product; the Velo has won the Innovations award at the 1997 Winter Consumer Electronics Show, BYTE Magazine's Best of Show award at Fall Comdex 1996, and is a 1997 Industrial Design Society Award winner.
Velo Accessories
The available accessories include the Velo Dock, Velo-to-PC Traveling Serial Cable, Velo V-Module, NiMH battery pack, DRAM and Flash memory Miniature Cards, Traveling AC Adapter, and Velo Carrying Case.
The Company
The Philips Mobile Computing Group, with headquarters in Sunnyvale, California, is one of the first new initiatives in digital convergence from Philips Electronics. Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG) is one of the world's largest consumer electronics companies with annual sales of $40 billion. Its products include: consumer electronics; lighting; components; semiconductors; communication systems; multimedia systems and software; domestic appliances; professional solutions; medical systems and personal care products. Philips Mobile Computing Group can be found on the world wide web at http://www.velo1.com.
NOTE: Velo is either a registered trademark or trademark of Philips Electronics in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. All other trade names are either registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.
SOURCE: Philips Mobile Computing Group
CONTACT:
Lisa Schiltz of Philips Electronics, 408-523-2874, or [email protected];
or
Becky Ross of Brodeur Porter Novelli, 408-324-4848, or [email protected], for Philips