Say good bye to the DVD headrest as we know it? Audiovox hopes to release an Android headrest/tablet system by the end of the year at a price about 10 percent higher than typical DVD headrest systems, it said. And it plans to back the product with advertising, helping retailers take advantage of widespread interest in Android.
The headrest will include a WiFi Android tablet embedded in a headrest as first announced at the Consumer Electronics Show, as a prototype, It’s now got a target ship date and price range.
The tablet will work with the user’s cellphone for a 3G or 4G connection.
The headrests can be sold in different combination so you can buy one headrest/tablet and one headrest/DVD system or two headrest/tablets. It will work with a wireless keyboard.
Audiovox Electronics president Tom Malone said, “We want the apps; the ability to open up Facebook or YouTube, possibly download movies.”
Audiovox sees embedded Android tablets as a reason for people to upgrade from a DVD rear seat system.
“What we also like about it is….people are on their 3rd or 4th generation car DVD system and they are looking for something different. We thought we had that with FLO-TV and unfortunately, Qualcomm decided to take another direction. This is a way for consumers to upgrade. It’s technology they use every day on their tablet and on their phone. I think it will generate some additional interest in rear seat entertainment, which has declined significantly over the past couple of years. It’s a nice shot in the arm for expeditors.”
Android will also give the dealers something to advertise and Audiovox will support it with retailer coop programs. “Advertising is a tough challenge for our entire industry based on the volumes this business generates. No one can launch a program. The industry is a bunch of fragmented companies. It’s very hard to do something on a national basis.”
Malone added that there’s been very little promotion recently but as the business starts to rebound, you’ll see more local ads and that is just starting to happen now. “What’s happening now is you are getting a little more excitement in the category. ..We think there are a group of products that will emerge that will give the retailers something to build stories around. And I don’t think they’ve had those stories for a long time. These products are ad worthy.”
No information was available on a screen size for the tablet. –Amy Gilroy
Source: CEoutlook
