Tiger Telematics Confirms UK Distribution Duo
100,000 unit agreements confirmed for UK mail order, independents and online retailers
LONDON, 21st April 2005 - Gizmondo Europe Ltd, subsidiary of Jacksonville, Florida-based Tiger Telematics Inc. (other OTC, TGTL), is pleased to announce signing distribution agreements for the UK with leading independent distributors, Andromeda Entertainment Ltd. and Just Distribution Ltd, with 60,000 and 40,000 unit deals respectively over the next 12 months.
Just Distribution Ltd will be supplying Gizmondo hardware and software to the independent retailers throughout the UK. Set up in 2001, Just's growth model has been focused on support and service to the independents, for which the company has received considerable acclaim.
Andrew Blumson, Director, Just Distribution, says: "Gizmondo genuinely understand the critical importance of the independent retail channel. We're excited to be the selected partner to support them in this area of the market." He continued, "The multiple price points of the hardware, especially the Smart Add-enabled version at £129, are being viewed with particular interest."
Andromeda was formed in 1993 to distribute consoles and games, initially to the major UK mail order catalogue companies. Andromeda soon established itself as the largest specialist supplier of computer and video games to this market, and their customer base has expanded to include the retail catalogue showrooms.
Robert Stein, CEO, Andromeda, says: "Andromeda are fulfilling supply following great interest in Gizmondo from the mail order side of the market. The 89 games confirmed for this year means that the hardware will be well supported, and from our perspective the home shopping sector have really bought into Gizmondo."
Gizmondo will deal direct with key accounts in the UK, representing the remaining 75% of the market, and will be making a number of important announcements over the coming weeks. Both the Independents and Multiples will be supported by DVC Sales Ltd. who will be working in partnership under the Gizmondo brand name, building the product awareness and impact for the entire portfolio.
DVC Sales, established in 1975 previously as Aspen Field Marketing, is the largest independently owned contract sales organisation in the UK working with a number of established household brands across a number of different sectors, including, Vodafone, Electronic Arts, Sony Ericsson, and JVC.
Gary Mac Manus, joint Managing Director of DVC Sales, offered: "Much of the Gizmondo marketing activity thus far has been focused on the introduction of the brand and communicating the six core functions of the device to audiences in and around major UK cities. Our initial role will be to continue that communication down to store level and build on the excitement already there, to generate consumer awareness, footfall in store, visibility, and sales for our retail partners."
Gordon Peel, Co-Founder and Director of That'z Entertainment, says: "We are extremely pleased for JUST to be handling the distribution of Gizmondo for the Indie sector. They represent everything a quality distributor stands for, and here at Lakeside shopping centre, we welcome Gizmondo as a new and refreshing product line."
Paul Kenwright, Director of Virtual Games, says: "We will be fully committed in supporting Gizmondo from launch across all 8 stores. We have already established a great relationship with JUST and look forward to an equally good one with Gizmondo."
Mike Morgan, VP of Global Sales, Gizmondo, says: "We've been in extensive discussions with a number of leading distributors here in the UK. Under final analysis, Andromeda and Just resonated and reflected our own aspirations for Gizmondo as a new entry into the handheld market."
Carl Freer, Co-founder and Chairman, Tiger Telematics, says: "This is a strategic partnership that we believe will work extremely well for our projected hardware and software range, especially at this stage in our company's growth."
About Gizmondo
The Gizmondo is powered by Microsoft Windows CE advanced real-time operating system, boasting a 2.8-inch TFT colour screen with a Samsung ARM9 400Mhz processor and incorporates the GoForce 3D 4500 NVIDIA graphics accelerator. It provides cutting-edge gaming, multimedia messaging, an MP3 music player, Mpeg4 movie playing capability, a digital camera and a GPRS network link to allow wide-area network gaming. Additionally, it contains a GPS chip for location-based services, is equipped with Bluetooth for use in multi-player gaming and accepts SD and MMC card accessories.
The Gizmondo device and its games are in retail stores now in the UK, launch in mainland Europe from 19th May 2005, and in North American from Summer 2005.
About Tiger Telematics and Gizmondo
Gizmondo Europe Ltd. is an owned subsidiary of Tiger Telematics Inc (TGTL) and is the maker of Gizmondo, a next-generation mobile entertainment device. Launched in 2004, the gaming device includes built-in music, video, messaging and picture functions and GPS.
Tiger Telematics is a designer, developer and marketer of mobile telematics systems and services that combine global GPS functions and voice recognition technology to locate and track vehicles and people down to street level in countries throughout the world. The systems are designed to operate on GPS and are currently being marketed to GSM current and potential subscribers, primarily by the company's United Kingdom based subsidiaries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. 'Gizmondo', 'Smart Adds', 'Tiger Telecom', 'Gizmondo Games' and the 'Gizmondo' logos and devices are trademarks of Gizmondo Europe Limited. All rights reserved.