RadioShack Announced as Exclusive Retail Destination for Knight ...

Tag : gps

FORT WORTH, Texas and FREMONT, Calif. , Sept. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- RadioShack Corporation ( RSH ) and Mio Technology today announced the retail launch of theKnight Rider GPS by Mio at RadioShack. Exclusively, until October 31, 2008 , customers may purchase the Knight Rider GPS online through http://www.RadioShack.com or at more than 2,500 select RadioShack stores nationwide.
To create an authentic Knight Rider experience, Mio partnered withUniversal Studios Digital Platforms Group to become a Knight Riderlicensee and Navtones(R) to include exclusive voice guidance andturn-by-turn directions featuring the original voice of K.I.T.T.,(Knight Industries Two Thousand). K.I.T.T. is a talking car withartificial intelligence featured in the Knight Rider televisionseries that is being revived this fall on NBC television.
With a sleek, jet-black design inspired by the original K.I.T.T.,the Knight Rider GPS by Mio brings the magic of the originaltelevision series to your daily commute. Through collaboration withNavtones(R), a Los Angeles -based provider of celebrity voice sets for GPS devices, users willride with the original voice of K.I.T.T providing turn-by-turnguidance. Users can also pick from a menu of more than 300 commonnames, which are then paired with randomized voice greetings,giving a personalized experience every time the device is turnedon. Also included are red LED lights flanking both sides of thescreen that flash in sync with K.I.T.T.'s voice -- much like theoriginal K.I.T.T.'s hood-mounted illuminating lights -- providingthe ultimate Knight Rider experience.
The Knight Rider GPS features a 4.3-inch color LCD touch screenwith an anti-glare coating that makes it easy to operate in brightlighting conditions. In addition to the voice of K.I.T.T.,directions and guidance are offered in the user's choice ofEnglish, French and Spanish in standard voice. Even the specialgraphic user interface simulates the overall K.I.T.T. experience,with jet-black menus and a miniature black car to indicate yourlocation on the map display. The device comes preloaded with mapsof the U.S. and Canada , including more than 4-million points of interest, along with acar mount, in-car charger, USB cable and documentation kit. MioTechnology's enhanced software ensures touch screen responsivenessand smooth transitions between menu screens. The manufacturer'ssuggested retail price is $269.99 .
"The original K.I.T.T. inspired us to combine unstoppablenavigation power with a design that looks cool on your dashboard,and as a result navigation across the country or to the localgrocery store will never be more fun," said Kiyoshi Hamai , senior director of sales and product management, Mio TechnologyUSA. "This exclusive launch with RadioShack is ideal, because theirknowledgeable associates are uniquely qualified to present thisone-of-a-kind device in a fun and accessible way."
To order this unique GPS device, visit http://www.radioshack.com . To locate a store participating in the exclusive launch, visitradioshack.com, type "Knight Rider" in the search bar, click on the"available at most stores" link and enter a ZIP code. The productis also available through RadioShack's Ship-to-Store orderingsystem offering secured delivery to any participating RadioShackretail location.
About Knight Rider
Returning to NBC beginning Wednesday, September 24 ( 8-9 p.m. ET ), the action series showcases the new KITT (Knight IndustriesThree Thousand). KITT is equipped with "AI" (artificialintelligence) that is capable of hacking almost any system. Itsweapons systems matches that of a jet fighter, and its body iscapable of actually transforming into other vehicles and usessophisticated holographic imagery to elude villains.
"Knight Rider" stars Justin Bruening ("Cold Case"), Deanna Russo ("NCIS"), Sydney Tamiia Poitier ("Veronica Mars"), Paul Campbell ("Battlestar Galactica"), Yancey Arias ("Kingpin") and Bruce Davison ("Breach"). Smith Cho ("Blades of Glory") recurs.
Based on characters created by Glen Larson , "Knight Rider" is from Universal Media Studios and Dutch OvenProductions. David Bartis , Doug Liman, Matt Pyken and Gary Scott Thompson serve as executive producers.
About RadioShack Corporation
RadioShack Corporation ( RSH ) is one of the nation's most experienced and trusted consumerelectronics specialty retailers. Operating from convenient andcomfortable neighborhood and mall locations, RadioShack storesdeliver personalized product and service solutions within a fewshort minutes of where most Americans either live or work. Thecompany has a presence through almost 6,000 company-operated storesand dealer outlets in the United States and nearly 700 wireless phone kiosks. RadioShack's dedicated forceof knowledgeable and helpful sales associates has been consistentlyrecognized by several independent groups as providing the bestcustomer service in the consumer electronics and wirelessindustries. For more information on RadioShack Corporation, or topurchase items online, visit http://www.RadioShack.com .
About Mio Technology
Mio Technology develops and markets products that enable users totake advantage of the latest developments in mobile services. Thecompany was established in May 2002 and now has operations in Taiwan , mainland China , Europe , North America , Australia , Japan and South Korea . Mio Technology has more than 1,200 employees worldwide and sellsand markets its products in over 47 countries and territories. Thecompany offers a wide array of mobile navigation products, whichtoday includes car navigation systems, handheld navigation systems,GPS PDA phones and GPS PDAs, all designed to enable people toexplore and discover the world around them. Mio Technology is amongthe world's top three vendors of mobile devices with integratedGPS. The company is online at http://www.mio.com .
About Navtones
Los Angeles -based Navtones(R) is a global provider of celebrity, specialty,and branded voice content for GPS navigation systems. Thousands ofdrivers in more than 30 countries know what it means to "Nav ItYour Way" from installing Navtones(R) on their portable navigationdevices. Founded in 2004 with a mission to add entertainment to thedaily commute, Navtones(R) content is available to both consumersand navigation enterprises via download and embedded license,respectively. To sample our exclusive catalog or for moreinformation, please check us out at http://www.navtones.com .
About Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group
Universal Pictures Digital Platforms (UPDPG) is responsible forglobal digital product development, production, licensing,distribution, and growth strategy for the extensive catalogue ofUniversal's properties across new and emerging digital platforms,including mobile, video game consoles, personal computers, andother portable devices. With a worldwide mandate to help shape thedigital future of Universal Pictures, the Group has offices in Universal City, California ; London, England ; and Tokyo, Japan .
Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group is a unit of UniversalStudios Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures. UniversalPictures is a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leadingmedia and entertainment companies in the development, production,and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a globalaudience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment,NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news andentertainment networks, a premier motion picture company,significant television production operations, a leading televisionstations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is80-percent owned by General Electric and 20-percent owned byVivendi.
SOURCE RadioShack Corporation