Sony adds colour to its headset range

Jim O'Neill — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 10:22:46 -0500

Feb 13, 2008

Sony EuropeÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s IT Peripherals division today announces the launch of five new headsets to its headset range, featuring stylish colour variations of black/silver and black/metallic orange, available now.

Ã‚Â The new products include two headband PC headsets DR-220DPS and DR-220DPTM, two headband headsets with in-line volume control DR220DPVS & DR220DPVTM and a USB model DR260USBS. The headsets support a range of applications from listening to music to online multi-player gaming sessions, as well as hands-free capability for internet chat and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls such as MSN Messenger and Skype.

Each Sony headset is designed for clear voice and sound transmission with a fully adjustable rotating flexible boom microphone complete with Sony noise cancelling technology. For improved listening, the headsets include Sony Acoustic Twin Turbo Circuits and a Silent Cap Design for reduced sound leakage. The headsets also feature adjustable headbands with a lightweight design which provide optimum comfort for the user.

Sony PC Headset range

DR-220DP Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Flexible lightweight headsets

Available in metallic orange and silver

DR-220DPV Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Flexible lightweight headsets with volume control

Available in metallic orange and silver

DR-G250DP Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Collapsible street style design perfect for frequent travelers

Collapsible headset with retractable pipe microphone for easy transport & storage
Padded ear pads for long lasting wearing comfort
Can be used as Headset for Internet Calls or Headphone for listening to music
Available in purple

DR-260USBS Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Ideal for MAC computers and USB preference

Lightweight hands-free stereo headset
Removable USB audio box for volume and microphone sound control
Convenient design of USB Audio Box for simple placement and operation on desktop or other flat surface
Available in silver

DR-115DP Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Single sided design

Swivel feature for easy right to left ear switching
Available in grey/blue

DR-EX230DP Ã¢â‚¬â€œ In-ear silicon ear-buds for ultimate comfort

Connect to VoIP and Skype through your PC
In-Ear design offers optimum sound quality
In-line microphone takes up little space and offers excellent sound recording
Convenient travel case that fits in the hand
Perfect fit and comfort with soft silicon ear buds supplied in 3 sizes
Available in black

Ã‚Â AgnÃƒÂ¨s Lariguet, Product Manager for PC Accessories, Sony EuropeÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s IT Peripherals division comments, Ã¢â‚¬Å“Following continuous growth in internet penetration, and the trend in using PCs for internet messaging as well as multimedia applications such as DVD and music playback, the headset market is continuing to expand. With this in mind, Sony has produced a range of headsets to match the varying needs of the market for VOIP, Instant Messaging, Internet Gaming, listening to music or watching films, at work or on-the-go.Ã¢â‚¬Â

Availability and estimated street pricing

DR-220DPS/TM - Ã¢â€šÂ¬24.99
DR-220DPVS/TM - Ã¢â€šÂ¬29.99
DR-G250DP - Ã¢â€šÂ¬39.99
DR-260USBS - Ã¢â€šÂ¬59.99
DR-115DP - Ã¢â€šÂ¬21.99
DR-EX230DP - Ã¢â€šÂ¬44.99

Press Release: Sony BMG, Dada Create Leading U.S. Direct to Consumer Digital and Mobile Entertainment Service

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 09:28:49 -0400

SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT and Dada Form Joint Venture to Create a Leading U.S. Direct to Consumer Digital and Mobile Entertainment Service

Alliance to Create Next Generation Entertainment Service With Integrated Web and Mobile Offering Dada Entertainment - New 50%-50% Joint Venture

NEW YORK and FLORENCE, Italy, July 16 -- SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT and Dada, a leading international provider of web and mobile community and entertainment services, today announced the formation of a U.S. joint venture to be known as Dada Entertainment LLC. The mission of the joint venture is to create a leading direct-to-consumer entertainment service with integrated mobile and web offerings. The venture's products will be marketed through the web and through mobile off-deck and on-deck distribution channels. Dada Entertainment will be 50% owned by Dada USA and 50% owned by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.

The new company will be led by the current CEO of Dada USA Inc., Massimiliano Pellegrini, who will serve as the joint venture's CEO.

Through the new joint venture, which will initially target U.S.-based consumers, SONY BMG and Dada intend to offer a next generation web and mobile entertainment service, combining a wide variety of music content, including ringtones, images, video ringers, mobile games, screen themes, and full length audio and video tracks, with a rich Web 2.0 community and social networking experience. The joint venture will include and build upon various direct-to- consumer offerings contributed by the parents, and will be supported by a full portfolio of web-based services designed to foster interaction between users and encourage a sense of community, including photo and video uploading and sharing, dating, blogs, social networking, and user-generated content.

"This joint venture will provide us with an important platform to further expand Artists' presence in the mobile and web space, give consumers greater flexibility in how they consume music, and build the market for mobile and web entertainment in the U.S.," commented Thomas Hesse, President, Global Digital Business & U.S. Sales, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT. "We look forward to working closely with Dada as we set new standards of excellence in off deck and on deck mobile services, providing the highest quality content, innovative new products, and the best possible levels of customer service."

Dada Entertainment will derive its revenues mainly from subscriptions and pay per download services, as well as from the sale of advertising on its properties, and from innovative community based social advertising solutions, such as Dada's "friend$" program. This program, based on Google AdSense, allows users to earn money through sharing of advertising revenue generated on their personal spaces and through the community pages containing their content.

"Dada Entertainment will build on the partners' collective experience and strengths in the web and mobile space," commented Paolo Barberis, Founder and Chairman of Dada. "It will make available to consumers music-related content from a variety of sources with user-friendly, web and mobile interfaces that give end users easy access to the content they want, as well as a chance to interact with each other. We think this new model represents a dynamic step forward for entertainment in the mobile and Web 2.0 era."

Dada and SONY BMG will each provide services to support the joint venture. Dada will provide access to its proprietary technology and billing platforms; and SONY BMG will promote the joint venture's services through its multiple distribution channels, including its web properties and video network, CDs, media buying, third-party media and physical retail relationships. Each party will also provide funding to meet the capital needs of the joint venture, and one or more of the entities of the Dada Group will provide the underlying platform and billing technology.

While SONY BMG will provide the joint venture with access to its full catalog of music and video content, Dada Entertainment will be open to obtaining content from sources other than its current content providers. The joint venture will also be open to evaluating strategic partnerships with other organizations, including media groups and mobile operators.

In fiscal year 2006 the business comprised by the contributed offerings of the two partners recorded net revenues of $66.5 million and Ebitda of $11.5 million.(1)

The JV will be governed by a board of directors comprised of an equal number of representatives of each party. The chairmanship will rotate annually between the parties. Dada has the right to propose the initial CEO of the joint venture, and SONY BMG has the right to propose the initial CFO. The board will designate an audit committee also comprising an equal number of members designated by each party. Certain strategic decisions of the board will require unanimity.

The closing of the transaction, which is expected to occur by the fourth quarter of 2007, is subject to satisfaction or waiver of certain customary conditions, including obtaining regulatory approvals and third party consents.

Any developments of the present transaction will be communicated in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.

The guidance communicated by Dada to the financial community did not take into account the effects of extraordinary activities and any relevant impact of the present transaction on DADA's financial forecasts will be in such case communicated accordingly.

About Dada S.p.A

Dada S.p.A. (dada.dada.net), is a leading international provider of web and mobile community and entertainment services. Dada is listed on the Milan Stock Exchange in the STAR segment (DA.MI) and includes the RCS MediaGroup (which holds approximately 43.8%) among its shareholders, in addition to the management and founding shareholders with approximately 14.6% of the share capital.

Dada's services are provided through the community Dada.net (http://www.dada.net) and offers its customers a rich range of fee-based community and entertainment products and services to communicate, entertain and educate, and are accessible both via PC and mobile phone (through the SMS/MMS channel and the micro-portals of the main mobile phone operators). The Dada consumer offering is available, in Italy, in the USA, through its subsidiary Dada USA, in Spain, through its subsidiary Dada Iberia, in Brazil through its subsidiary Dada Brazil, in China through its subsidiary Dada China, and in Portugal, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Canada, Australia, Indonesia, India, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Columbia and Uruguay.

The Dada Group includes Register.it (http://www.register.it), established leader in the registration of Internet domains, which has recently acquired Nominalia S.L., leader in Spain in the same sector; Upoc Networks Inc., a well established provider of web and mobile value added services in the US, Tipic Inc., an international leader in the blog and social networking sector with the Splinder and Motime brands and E-Box S.r.l., owner of Blogo platform, the most visited Italian network of vertical blogs.

About SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT is a global recorded music joint venture with a roster of current artists that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars, as well as a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT is 50% owned by Bertelsmann AG and 50% owned by Sony Corporation of America.

(1) Dada USA financials based on IFRS, Sony BMG based on US GAAP

SOURCE: SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

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Sony adds colour to its headset range

Press Release: Sony BMG, Dada Create Leading U.S. Direct to Consumer Digital and Mobile Entertainment Service