KENWOOD commercializes next generation, network-aware consumer multimedia system based on the Windows Automotive(R)* operating system. User-friendly navigation and entertainment functions are included that meet the needs of the health and welfare industry. A sales agreement has been concluded with Grafrg Corporation for the "HDM-777" first-generation unit, which has a wide applicability centering on welfare facilities for seniors.
Summary KENWOOD Corporation (President: Haruo Kawahara, headquartered: Hachioji, Tokyo) has commercialized a new consumer automotive multimedia system based on the Windows Automotive(R) operating system. Its integrated design concept is "next generation networking as a result of KENWOOD's own research started last year through strategic investment in its core business of Car Electronics." KENWOOD is pleased to announce its commercialization of the first generation "HDM-777" unit. A sales agreement has been initiated with Grafrg Corporation to sell this unit, which has wide applicability centering on the market for welfare facilities for seniors. KENWOOD intends this new automotive multimedia system to anchor a new product initiative that integrates its home electronics and communications businesses, offering an "intelligent entertainment system" that achieves networking with home audio and other systems. The full-scale launch of the first product in this initiative is set for the first half of 2005. The aim of the new series To encompass the "Mobile & Home Multimedia System" space by fusing KENWOOD's core business with original technical developments The development of digital & network technologies for automobiles has created vast potential for car audio and navigation systems. KENWOOD has built its brands into a presence that is well-known around the world, and this marketing ability has also unearthed hidden demand in the market that have informed this initiative. KENWOOD's product visualization and realization capabilities are centered on consumer products, and have enabled it to continually advance in the car electronics market since entering it in 1980. KENWOOD has strived to expand into the fields of automotive navigation and multimedia and pursued core technologies through joint research and development with other companies. In February 2004, KENWOOD launched "Theater Navi," a hard disc based, AV-integrated car navigation system that has won the highest praise from the consumers. Theater Navi is a new type of concept product designed to be both convenient and entertaining, and was developed by creating a fusion of KENWOOD's unique high quality sound and other advanced technologies, and implementing a product strategy emphasizing hard disc based models. KENWOOD's new automotive multimedia system is also a strategic model intended to drive increased sales among middle class customers, who have the primary purchasing power in the automotive navigation and multimedia markets. In order to commercialize its core navigation system, KENWOOD invested 2 years in rolling out a large-scale development project to nurture the unique technologies involved. KENWOOD is the only manufacturer devoted to the three core businesses of automotive, home and wireless products, and in the future, the company intends to propose new "intelligent entertainment systems" networking automotive multimedia systems, portable and home audio systems, and personal computers, while continuing to develop this overall concept that integrates its three core businesses. The concept of the new series An automotive multimedia system that uses next generation networking to provide superior audio quality & functionality The development of digital and networking technologies has extended to car electronics as well, so that it has become possible to develop an environment with real-time access to a variety of entertainment and information services, connecting to information networks beyond the vehicle and the home server. KENWOOD aims to create a totally new entertainment system by using an all-purpose interface that allows networking between personal computers and home or car electronics, as represented by the connection between mobile digital audio players and personal computers. Using an HDD car navigation platform that offers superior navigation capabilities including high speed response and large volume map data storage, this new automotive multimedia system provides an integrated audiovisual multimedia space inside the vehicle cabin. The system features original technologies for high quality audio that KENWOOD has developed over the years since launching its "Theater Navi" initiative, as well as a special emphasis on the importance of a new, highly interactive and functional advanced the user interface. KENWOOD is working to develop entertainment resources accessible by personal computers and web sites over the network, as well as allowing networking with home and portable audio systems. The first generation unit is designed for a limited number of users prior to launch of the full-scale sales campaign KENWOOD has entered into a sales agreement with Grafrg Corporation that has a wide market applicability, centering on health welfare facilities for seniors <HDD/DVD twin drive navigation system "HDM-777"> The KENWOOD automotive navigation system "HDM-777" achieves superior navigation functions such as HDD navigation, as well as superior entertainment capabilities using a twin drive with DVD. Customers of Grafrg Corporation demand superior navigation functions since they are used in vehicles for health and welfare facilities for seniors, and they demand superior entertainment capabilities for passengers in the rear seats. As a result, KENWOOD entered into a sales agreement on "HDM-777" with Grafrg Corporation. Grafrg Corporation covers a wide market for health and welfare facilities for seniors in 37,000 locations across Japan. Installing the "HDM-777" in vehicles owned by the welfare facilities will reduce the burden on the driver, while improving in-vehicle communication by using TV and DVD. This alliance plays a significant role in realizing Grafrg's corporate vision: "to build happiness for seniors." [Grafrg Corporation profile]
Product summary The "HDM-777" is an automotive multimedia system that provides both superior navigation functionality based on a hard disc drive (HDD), and superior entertainment functionality based on a DVD drive. Since a large capacity 20GB HDD and DVD drive are mounted independently, you can quickly change destinations without changing map discs, while passengers in the rear seats simultaneously enjoy a DVD program. In addition to the 7V-type touch panel TV monitor, large icons that are convenient for operations such as search are adopted. It is equipped with high search functionality such as the "When you are in trouble!" icon that quickly displays useful information on the nearest police station and hospital when you have a trouble during a drive and in case of emergency. Major product characteristics
KENWOOD's future strategy KENWOOD intends to continually introduce advancements on the first generation unit mentioned above, bringing one new product after another to the consumer market. New offerings will include integrated management of music, map and other information through integrated networking with personal computers, such as portable HDD audio systems which KENWOOD plans to commercialize in the near future, as well as the introduction of new technologies such as voice synthesis.
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