Alcatel, Thomson in a deal..............................
allnetdevices.com
Alcatel, Thomson Create Internet Consumer Products Company
July 20, 1999 -- Alcatel and Thomson are creating a new company that will focus on desktop smart phones and other digital communications products for the home such digital cable set-tops, Internet telephony products and ADSL modems.
Each company will own half of the new company, but it will be managed by Thomson. Alcatel has been developing a new Java-based screen phone targeted for release this fall. Thomson, which owns the RCA and GE brands, which sell a variety of products such as set-tops for satellite television.
The company already has annual sales of 25 million units and $800 million, the companies said in their announcement. They claim that base will serve them well in the development of digital home communications products.
The partnership is aimed at the mass market, the companies say. Thomson will continue to sell its cable modems directly to cable operators and Alcatel will continue to market its ADSL modems to telephone companies and ISPs.
"The new company is tailored perfectly to the home networking business model, allowing our ADSL modem and screenphone to thrive in what is shaping up to become huge consumer market," said Serge Tchuruk, Chairman and CEO of Alcatel.
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