The U.S. Air Force (AF) awarded a team of 5 companies a contract to develop architecture for communications between its next command and control (C2) satellites and terrestrial assets, Lockheed Martin said. The team -- led by Lockheed and including Boeing, IBM, L3 Communications and Raytheon -- would work on 10 of the 13 nodes of the network, determining standards and business rules for the system, exploring the exchange of information between systems and “creating a fully integrated network of land-, air-, sea- and space-based sensors,” the company said. The contract is valued at $3 million, but has an optional extension for 3 years and $50 million.
Cobra Electronics has postponed delivery of top-end GMS-1000 GPS device ($249) to first quarter 2004 from 4th quarter as it works with Rand McNally to finalize software, Senior Vp Anthony Mirabelli said. Cobra had originally expected to deliver GMS- 1000 this summer. “Software takes some time to develop and it’s no small assignment,” Mirabelli said. It has shipped GMS-100 ($119) and is expected to deliver GMS-500, which also is packaged with mapping software, in next several weeks. Meanwhile, Cobra will introduce 3 marine VHF radios at CES in Jan. Line will range from entry-level handheld model ($139) with 1-2-mile range to fixed mount, 25 w radio with 3” LCD screen and GPS capability ($199), Mirabelli said. Separately, Cobra landed 2 SKUs of mid- priced radar detectors at mass retailer, whom Mirabelli declined to identify. Chainwide rollout followed 6-month test with single model, he said. New limited edition Dale Earnhardt CB radio ($129) due in Sept. will likely match Harley Davidson version that shipped 20,000 units earlier this year, he said.
Lockheed Martin and Telesat will jointly create a satellite-based air traffic navigation system, said the latter. Telesat’s Anik F1R satellite, scheduled for launch in 2005, will carry the GPS navigation and landing system, the company said.
Game Boy Advance (GBA) and PS2 continued to dominate Japan videogame sales chart in week ended July 20. Data provider Media Create (MC) said combined GBA and front-lit GBA SP market share was 45.37%, with 9.47% from standard GBA and 35.9% from SP. PS2 had 39.52% share. Trailing were GameCube (11.71%), Xbox (1.20%), SwanCrystal (1.16%), PS one (0.86%), WonderSwanColor (0.16%). In videogame software, MC said “total sales for the top 100 this week amounts to over 916,000 units… The release of Jikkyo Power Pro Baseball 10 [from Konami] as well as other new releases and this week earmarking the start of the school summer holiday have contributed to the favorable performance of the market this week. [It] has surpassed the weekly average [for the] first time in about 4 months since the release of Super Robot Battle Part 2 in the 4th week of March.” MC said “there were 24 new titles [that] made it into the rankings this week.” Among them, it said, Jikkyo for PS2 and GameCube saw “combined sales of [about] 271,000 units,” while Mega Man X7 from Capcom followed with 74,000 units and R-Type Final from Irem Software Engineering sold 42,000. MC said: “The ratio of new releases to the total sales is also high at 58.99%, and it is clearly indicating the strong lineups of the new releases this week. However, comparing this [week’s] performance with that of the same period last year (with market total of approximately 1.5 million units) and of 2001 (with 2.26 million units), it shows undoubtedly the continuously stagnant market situation for the time of year. Amid growing calls for the contraction of the summer selling seasons lately, it is expected that there will be further cooling of the market compared to” past years. MC said PS2 version of Jikkyo was #1- rented title, followed by PS2 version of Mega. Three other PS2 titles made top 10: R-Type at #5, Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World from Media Works at #9, Bomberman Land 2 from Hudson at #10. Rounding out top 10 were Super Mario Advance 4 from Nintendo for GBA at #3, Kirby Air Ride from Nintendo for GameCube at #4, GameCube version of Jikkyo at #6, Korokke 2 from Konami for GBA at #7, Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand from Konami for BA at #8.
Gillette Duracell Div.’s move earlier this year to slash prices on alkaline AA and AAA batteries and abandon money-losing promotions, action quickly matched by Energizer and Rayovac, has resulted in “much more logical and rational pricing environment,” Rayovac CEO David Jones told analysts in conference call. Rayovac fully introduced “50% more” program this month along with new packaging for AA and AAA batteries. Initial shipments of 2 SKUs were made to Target in mid-June, analysts said. Among other changes in recently completed 3rd fiscal quarter, Kmart dropped private label batteries, resulting in additional shelf space for Rayovac and others, Jones said. Rayovac said 3rd-quarter net income shrank to $2.9 million from $10.3 million as it took $11 million charge for restructuring in its acquisition of Varta. Revenue rose to $207.7 million from $135.4 million, due largely to Varta’s strong presence in Europe where sales jumped to $96.1 million from $11.8 million. Rayovac now has 24-25% market share in Western Europe, Jones said. Sales in N. America declined to $81.2 million from $100.9 million as result of impact of retailer’s markdowns and lower sales volumes. Alkaline and rechargeable battery sales were down 4% and 30%, respectively, in N. America in quarter. Sharp drop in chargers and rechargeable batteries was result partly of reductions in inventory at retail in advance of expected delivery of Rayovac’s new 15-min. IC (3) charger in Aug., Jones said. “We expect to land that [IC (3)] in wide distribution,” he said. Separately, Rayovac said it expected to complete restructuring related to its acquisition of Varta by fiscal 4th quarter.
Wireless carriers are stepping up their calls for the FCC to rule on questions involving intercarrier compensation by mobile operators and LECs, citing the rising number of wireless termination tariffs filed by wireline carriers. While wireless carriers want the Commission to rule those tariffs are illegal, rural LECs have urged the agency to uphold their lawfulness, defending them as cost-based and voluntary because they apply only when there’s not a negotiated agreement.
New Game Releases: Latest PS2 exclusive game from Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) is Downhill Domination, which shipped in U.S. at $39.99. Title, developed by company’s Santa Monica studio with Incog Entertainment, was described by SCEA as “the first downhill mountain bike racing game ever published for a next-generation platform.” Game’s soundtrack includes song “8-Track” by Brian Setzer. SCEA is backing release of game with national TV ad campaign that includes prime-time programming throughout this week. Company said: “Spot will run in various time slots on network, cable and syndicated programming continuing through September 12. Executions will occur on NBC, Fox and WBN Networks, as well as targeted cable programming including ESPN2, MTV, Speedvision, TBS and the USA Network. Airings will reach viewers of WWE Smackdown, Smallville, Saturday Night Live and many more shows.” National print ad campaign is running through Sept. in magazines including Bike Magazine, Blender, Maxim… Ubi Soft Entertainment is running joint promotion with DC Comics, Warner Home Video and GamePro Magazine to support new game Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu, scheduled to ship in Oct. for all next-generation platforms. Ubi Soft said title was “first videogame to introduce a new character into the Batman franchise.” Promotion includes “Art Attack! Contest” sponsored by Ubi Soft that’s to run through Oct. 31. Entrants submitting their best Batman drawings will be judged by comic book artist and Sin Tzu co-creator Jim Lee. Prizes include Game Boy Advance (GBA) SP, copies of game, Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman DVD from Warner, Mad Catz Interactive peripheral packages. Ubi Soft also is including trailer of game on VHS version of Mystery of the Batwoman. Separately, Ubi Soft said long-awaited game Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, based on Oscar- winning film of same name, would ship for GBA and PS2 Sept. 23. GBA version was developed by Ubi Shanghai and PS2 version by Genki… Astraware and Pazzazz Games announced availability of Pocket PC version of 3D auto racing game GTS Racing Challenge at $17.95… CDV Software Entertainment released online demo of PC game No Man’s Land.
House Judiciary Committee Wed. is expected to approve bill (HR-49) by Rep. Cox (R-Cal.) that would make moratorium on discriminatory Internet taxes and online access taxes permanent. At same time, Senate Commerce Committee will hold a hearing on subject (WID July 14 p4), all in anticipation of moratorium’s expiration Nov 1. As in 1998 and 2001, however, many expect Senate, which due to congressional apportionment is more heavily influenced by rural interests, to press for a linkage between moratorium and growing effort among states to simplify sales tax collection.
Continental Airlines became 2nd airline to relax its cellphone restrictions, following similar move last month by American Airlines. Moves toward relaxed cellphone use come as FAA has asked advisory group to move ahead with studies that could lead to updating of agency’s policy on use of personal electronic devices.
Continental Airlines became the 2nd airline to relax its cellphone restrictions, following a similar move last month by American Airlines (CD June 30 p2). Continental said its new policy, effective Mon. (July 7), allowed cellphone use after landing when a flight attendant permitted it. The airline previously restricted wireless phone use until the aircraft door opened at the arrival gate. Continental has retained its policy on phone use at departure, which requires that a passenger stop using phone when the cabin door was closed. American said last month it would allow passengers on most arriving flights to use cellphones while the aircraft was taxiing to the gate. “Many of our customers will find it beneficial to take advantage of a few extra minutes of talk time as their aircraft taxis from the runway to the gate,” a Continental spokesman said. Continental also said it would complete installation of Verizon Airfone’s 2-way e-mail capability throughout its narrowbody fleet by fall. The moves toward relaxed cellphone use come as the FAA has asked an advisory group to move ahead with studies that could lead to an updating of the agency’s policy on the use of personal electronic devices (CD June 30 p2).