Panasonic to launch LCD projectors and color-screen phone in India

Panasonic is all set to enter the LCD projector space in India. The LC75E, LC55E, and AE100E projectors from its stable would be launched around the first week of October in the Indian market. While the LC75E and LC55E are made for the enterprise usage, the home segment is targeted with the AE100E. 

Speaking to CNS, Takeshi Ikeda, Director (System Product Division), Panasonic India, informed that the company is confident of a 10 percent market share in the current fiscal itself. While the existing channel will initially take care of the distribution, the company would appoint new partners. The rollout would occur in a phased manner in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore first, followed by Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Calcutta. 

Ikeda, however, did not divulge the exact prices of the LCD projectors as they are still being worked out, but informed that they would begin from Rs 1.25 lakh for an entry-level model. Beginning of next year, Panasonic will also launch its MFPs in India. The LC75E and the LC55E projectors both have vivid uniform color and smooth image gradation. Both the models are equipped with a large diameter, extra short-throw lens that shortens the necessary projection distance by 25 percent. The LC75E and the LC55E both accept upto 2 RGB inputs eliminating the need to reconnect the equipment when giving presentations back to back. The exhaust fans reduce operating noise to only 30 db and minimize light leakage. 

The AE100E home cinema projector can be connected to the PC to experience video-conferencing in real or surf the net. It can also be connected to a game machine to play the latest video games on a big screen. Features of the LC75E and LC55E include 310 X 85.5 X 243 mm, Weighs 3 kg, Power Supply - 100 - 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz, Power Consumption - 220 W (2W on Standby), Installation - Front, Rear, Ceiling, Desk Brightness - 1200 ANSI lumens, Lamp - AC 160W UHM Lamp, Input - Computer (D-sub HD 15-pin X 2),S-Video (Mini DIN 4-pin X1), Composite Video (RCA X 1), Audio line in (RCA, L/R), Output - VGA monitor out (D-Sub HD 15 pin),
Video Compatability / Color System - PAL, PAL-M, PAL-N, SECAM, NTSC, M-NTSC, Audio - 2W Mono, No. of colors - 16.7 bn, Lens - Manual zoom / Focus Lens
(1:1-1:1.2).

Features of the AE100E include 280 X 85 X 242 mm, Weighs 2.7 kg, Power Supply - 100 - 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz, Power Consumption - 220 W (0.7W on Standby), Installation - Ceiling/Desk, Front/Rear, (menu selection), Lamp -120W UHM Lamp, Input - Computer (D-sub HD 15-pin, stereo audio), S-Video (Mini DIN 4-pin), Video (RCA pin jack), Audio (RCA pin jack X 2 L/R), Video Compatability - NTSC, NTSC 4.43, PAL, PAL-M, PAL-N, SECAM, Audio - 2W Mono, Lens - Manual Zoom (1-1.2 )/focus lens.

Panasonic is also launching the GD 68 color-screen phone, priced at tentative Rs 11,000 in October. The launch in India would be part of the global launch, informed Takeshi Ikeda, director, Systems Product Division, National Panasonic India. However, the company has no immediate plans of launching the GD 88 model here. 

Speaking to CNS, Ikeda informed that the company is planning an aggressive and colorful launch, given that it is the first color screen model of the company to come to India. "The GD 65 has done well," commented Ikeda, but added, "The dynamics of the legal handset market in India is such that one company may end up having say 20 percent share of the total number of handsets traded in the legal market in one month and only five percent of the same in the next month. There was a lot of hype about Samsung some time back, but it has died down now. When the GD 65 was launched, everybody wanted to have a GD 65." 

Talking of overall market share, Ikeda clarified that Nokia has 50 percent share of the legal handset market in India, the rest 50 per cent was divided among various players. On the content front, talks are happening, but nothing concrete by way of a tie-up has happened, said Ikeda. Features of the GD 68 include full color display screen (256 colors), 16 tone polyphonic ringer, Enhanced Message Serving,
GPRS.

Other features include 109 mm X 45 mm X 19.9 mm, Weighs 82 gm, Talk Time: Upto 360 min, Standby Time: Upto 200 hours, Battery Type: 690 maH Li-Ion, Support Band: 900/1800 MHz, GPRS: UL Max. 1 + DL Max. 4, WAP: 1.2.1, Ringtone Composer and Download
(Ringtone/Graphics) Games.

Cyber News Service