Panasonic offers customers 'Ideas for life' with latest range of Multimedia and Business System Solution Technologies at GITEX Dubai 2004

The new range is based on Panasonic's vision of 'ubiquitous networking' between the areas of mobile communication, business and home applications to create a more convenient and affluent society where all homes and business solutions are networked to each other.

Speaking at a press conference held during the show, Managing Director, Panasonic Marketing Middle East FZE, Shoji Itoh said, "Developing digitally networked products is central to Panasonic's mission to create powerful new ideas for life. Our new range of consumer and business solutions use digital networking technologies to ease our customer's personal and professional lives. At GITEX Dubai 2004, we have displayed an exciting range of products that will strengthen our position as leading providers of entertainment and business system solutions."

"We have also identified three core areas, known as 3D as our product focus. They include DVD recorders, PDP (plasma display) VIERA series televisions and Lumix Digital cameras. These three product lines represent the future of consumer electronics, driven by digital technology. Digital products are the future of entertainment and as a pioneer in this field, we have created next-generation products that suit our customers' evolving lifestyles," he added.

In the DVD segment, Panasonic has unveiled its new DIGA DVD Recorder DMR-E500 with a spacious 400GB hard disk drive that lets users save more of their favorite photos, TV shows and home movies. In EP mode, up to 709 hours worth of content can be recorded and saved. Plus, its home networking functions let customers use a compatible PC or an additional DMR-E500 anywhere in their homes to enjoy programs and still images saved in this incredible DVD Recorder. Panasonic has a 46 percent share in the global DVD market with 10 million sets sold worldwide every year.

In the flat-panel PDP segment, Panasonic has announced the "VIERA" series coined from the phrase 'new visual era', as these models invite viewers to explore a new kind of entertainment. The strongest characteristic of the VIERA range is its superior picture quality. The VIERA plasmas are available in three screen sizes: 50-inch TH-50PV30 HD model, and the 42-inch TH-42PA30 and 37-inch TH-37PA30 SD models. The company is also launching the high-definition VIERA TH-65DX300 presentation product, with a screen measuring 65-inch diagonally making it the largest plasma display panel in the world available through consumer sales channels.

In the digital camera segment, the new models include the fashionable 5.0-megapixel DMC-FX7 and 4.0-megapixel DMC-FX2. The new models boast improved performance over the previous range, not only through compactness and total number of pixels, but also with a long list of technical improvements as in the image processing LSI and in the accuracy of Panasonic's patented O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) technology that helps prevent shaky pictures. Panasonic's worldwide sales of digital still cameras is 62 million sets per year and the company is targeting 10 percent global market share.

After pioneering the SD card, the digital bridge between IT and AV (audiovisual products), Panasonic has recently developed the world's smallest flash memory card the miniSDTM Card, compatible with GSM phones. Measuring just 21.5 mm in length, 20.0 mm in width and 1.4 mm in thickness and weighing about a gram, the miniSDTM Card is set to become an industry standard. Panasonic's new X700 tri-band smart phone is SD compatible extending its image storage capacities as well as ability to link to other SD-compatible AV and printing equipment. The company has forecast a 20 percent increase in global mobile phone market share by next fiscal year.

Panasonic is also introducing the NV-GS400, a 3CCD digital video camera with Leica Dicomar lens that can record still images at a record-breaking four-megapixels, the highest in the industry.

The company will also showcase a new GigaRange® Expandable Cordless Phone System for home or home office use, with a range of 5.8GHz for more clear reception. Another salient product is the KX-FLB756 which combines a fax, telephone, scanner, PC Fax, laser copier with fast 10ppm (pages per minute) print speed and low-cost laser printing - all in one space-saving unit. Some machines even feature up to eight 2.4 GHz GigaRange® cordless handsets. Another handy new product is the 60 ppm (page per minute) Colour Duplex Scanner, Panasonic will be introducing, part of Panasonic's office solutions line. The KV-S7065C is a flatbed duplex scanner with automatic document feeder capabilities. Its affordable price and high-performance features make it ideally suited for departmental work environments or medium sized businesses, while the flatbed design makes it very easy to use even while scanning books, magazines or delicate documents.

In it office solutions range, the company will introduce the multifunctional WORKiO which combines the functions of a digital copier, a network-enabled laser printer and scanner, a lightning-quick Super G3-Fax and an internet-fax, making it the most complete office solution and the Panaboard UB-5325G, an easy-to-install Electronic Whiteboard with USB connectivity that is ideal for displaying and printing information during meetings or training programs.

In the security camera range is the self-contained weather proof Super Dynamic II Color Cameras WV-CW370 and WV-CW470A featuring the most advanced combination of camera and video technologies for excellent performance in virtually any lighting condition, indoors or outdoors.

The company will also launch its large display system "LED Astrovision", a dynamic new information display system. LED Astrovision can be used to display advertising and public service messages.

Al Futtaim Panatech markets Panasonic products such as Telecommunication, Office Automation, Professional Audio-Video, Air-conditioning, Security, Lighting and advanced Plasma Display Systems in the UAE.