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Technology Stocks : C-Cube -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: BillyG who wrote (46499)	10/25/1999 12:07:00 PM
From: DiViT	Respond to of 50808

[ot] MONEY FOR MACROS October 18, 1999 -- Universal Electronics, maker of One-For-All remotes, was just granted a patent. What's the big deal? Seems the Universal patent covers all programmable macro -- or multifunction key sequencing capability -- packaged in a remote control. If the company elects to exercise its patent rights, it could collect royalties from licensees who use the technology; which is almost every manufacturer of high-end remote. "This newly issued patent effectively gives UEI ownership of the technology that makes it possible for anyone to use a single macro key on a remote to fully control a home 'infotainment' system of diverse components," said Universal CEO Camille Jayne. "On one key, the user can define and program a sequence of events -- turn the cable set-top box on, turn the TV on to channel 7, turn the VCR on to channel 3, and turn the stereo on and set the volume at level 4, for example." Today, this sequencing macro key is found on higher-end remotes, which Universal estimates currently account for about 15 percent of the universal remote-control market. Jayne stressed Universal's willingness to workout licensing arrangements with competitors who are using its macro key technology. "UEI has a family of more than 30 patents issued or pending, and part of our business is licensing our technology to others. This is nothing new to us. Ultimately, we're more interested in making consumers comfortable with the future direction of lifestyle technology. That way, everybody wins." Especially Universal. etown.com