Logitech Announces New Lineup At CeBIT

Logitech launched an array of new products today at CeBIT, including the company's most-affordable cordless mice and keyboards, along with new mice for notebook PCs.

From Logitech’s press release:

Today at the CeBIT tradeshow, Logitech showcased an array of new products and technologies, highlighted by the introduction of the company’s most-affordable-ever cordless mice and keyboards, along with new mice geared for the growing notebook PC market. The company also announced Logitech VideoCall for broadband — a powerful new way to experience video and audio communications over the Internet.

 ”CeBIT 2004 comes at a time when a number of important industry trends have converged, presenting Logitech with tremendous opportunities,” said Guerrino De Luca, Logitech’s president and chief executive officer. “With the buzz of the wireless lifestyle as a backdrop, we see a significant opportunity to expand the market for cordless computer peripherals by introducing low-cost cordless mice and keyboards. And with the use of video communications growing steadily, we’re introducing what we feel is an important, landscape-changing video application that could fuel more explosive growth.”

Cordless For Everyone

Proving that it’s never been more affordable than it is today to experience the simplicity, freedom, comfort and style of cordless peripherals, Logitech announced the Logitech Cordless Desktop Express, a combination cordless keyboard and cordless optical mouse. Offered for a suggested retail price of $49.95 in the U.S., this new desktop frees users from desktop clutter while providing the freedom to work and play how and where they want – without the restrictions of a cord. 

The company also introduced the Logitech Cordless Optical Mouse. At an extremely attractive suggested retail price of $29.95 in the U.S., the Logitech Cordless Optical Mouse makes tangled cables a thing of the past. With these new affordable prices, Logitech believes its market for cordless peripherals will expand dramatically in the coming months and years.

Logitech also unveiled a new line of highly affordable cordless game controllers for the PlayStation2 and Xbox platforms, both of which have improved battery life and a new, smaller form factor. Both provide lightning-quick responsiveness with their 2.4 GHz cordless radio frequency (RF) technology. The controllers can each achieve a range of 30 feet or more, more than enough to sit back and play comfortably from the couch.

New Internet Video Calling Application

For decades, the concept of using video and voice to communicate long distance with friends, family and associates has been highly anticipated. However, this kind of remote, face-to-face interaction has been limited primarily to the company boardroom and a few individual VIPs, due to the cost of hardware and software, and a shortage of high-quality networks. Not for long.

With the introduction of Logitech VideoCall, now available as a public beta, broadband Internet users can experience the combination of high-quality video (15-20 frames per second) and fully synchronized audio. The new service and software package, which can be used with any webcam, features an intuitive user interface, and a contact list that allows users to see who is online and to easily add family and friends.   

The English-only preview of Logitech VideoCall is available for trial, free of charge, at http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/usertype/videotopics/US/EN,CRID=2041. After collecting user feedback during the trial, Logitech expects to unveil the commercial release within the next 90 days. At that time, pricing and regional availability for the service will be announced. Later this summer, Logitech expects to add more languages.

For Those On the Move

Responding to the needs of the rapidly growing notebook market, Logitech unveiled the Logitech Notebook Optical Mouse Plus. Quite literally a snap to pack, the Notebook Optical Mouse Plus has a thin cord that wraps inside a track built in the base of the mouse. Once the cord is wrapped up completely, a snap fastens the USB connector to the bottom of the mouse, protecting the optical sensor. The result is a durable, all-in-one package, without any fragile moving parts, that is easy to take on the road or carry from room to room.

Expanding on Logitech’s mobile mouse family, the company has also added new colors to its successful Logitech Cordless Optical Mouse for Notebooks. Available this spring, these mobile cordless mice will come in red, blue and black, along with their original silver color.

Redefining Both Performance and Affordability for Optical Mice

Logitech also unveiled two new optical mice — the ultimate gaming and graphics mouse, and a low-cost corded mouse for those seeking affordable quality.

The ideal mouse for PC power users, the Logitech MX510 Performance Optical Mouse captures 5.8 megapixels per second of surface detail, delivers an improved 12-bit data path, and supports an acceleration of up to 15 g. The result is Logitech’s fastest, smoothest, most accurate and most responsive mouse to date. MX510, the latest in the MX-Family of performance mice, is available for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $49.95 in the U.S.

The Logitech Optical Mouse combines Logitech’s high-quality optical technology and ease of use in an extremely affordable package. Available in April for a suggested retail price of $14.95 in the U.S., Optical Mouse works out of the box without any software. It can plug into either a PS2 or a USB port — of a PC running either the Mac OS or a Windows operating system — and will work instantly. Logitech Optical Mouse, also available in Europe in April and in Asia later this year, comes in black with a polished black panel, or light gray with a metallic silver panel.