Regarding pricing:
At $2500, the panja 1000 is not a mass market item. However, there were over 1 million televisions sold last year for more than $2500!
In addition, much of the cost for the panja 1000 is in the box that coexists with the set top box, cable or dsl device and integrates the control of the a/v gear and distributes internet content through the TV or audio system.
With the Intel partnership and intel's major new efforts in the set top box arena, i wonder if a single device that combined set top boxes, broadband access, Panja control and perhaps other features such as tivo or replay could be created?
Is intel smart enough to think this way? I wonder.
Now, instead of a $2500 add on, you have a feature set that could be built into the monthly subscription fees for broadband. Might take a year or so, but it's on the way.
Would major broadband access providers want to deliver a service that allows internet text, audio and video to be displayed on your entertainment system?
With Panja inside, will there be a place for major home automation upgrades to be delivered by panja's dealer channel?
Do I want e-mail, chat, weather on demand, web clipping and mp3 audio streams delivered via my stereo and video gear?
Do I want to be able to have access to my house for video conferencing for both communication and security purposes?
This is not a single player game. There will be several winners. Panja has user interface expertise and a database for the controls of over 20,000 existing consumer devices that is unparalleled.
Future functionality combined with compatibility with the installed base.
Two things are needed, a manufacturing partner that can reduce costs. Hmmm...I think that may be resolved.
What else? Hmm, do you think that those folks fighting the battle to deliver high speed internet access might want to offer a set of services that creates the demand?
There's a killer app lurking here somewhere.
Mine gets installed in March. (Not the Panja 1000, I'm getting I think what's called the Panja 2000, which offers more home automation capability.)
TD
P.S. Nice to see the SI thread come alive. |
