Philips Shuts Down Pronto Business UnitBy Jason Knott
The remote control product line 'no longer fits with the Philips' strategy.'Philips says it is shutting down its Pronto remote control product line. The company has been trying to finder a buyer for the Pronto business since 2009 and was unsuccessful.
From the official statement:
Quote:
| “In December 2009, Philips announced the intention to relocate some of its existing remote control activities in Leuven, Belgium to Asia. At the same time, the intention was communicated to investigate alternative strategic options for the Pronto business, as this activity no longer fits with the Philips strategy. Following thorough research, no suitable partner was found for the acquisition of these activities. As such, Philips confirms today that it will discontinue the Pronto product line and related activities." |
The iconic brand targeted at the custom installation industry was first introduced in the 1990s. Since that time, the competitive landscape for remote controls has gotten much more crowded.
The shutdown is especially surprising since Philips just invested a significant amount of R&D into the development of its new TSW9500 in-wall Pronto touchscreens. The product received strong reviews last month at the CEDIA Expo.
The Pronto business, headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, serves the custom audio-video installation market with advanced control devices. Lower-end versions of the remotes are sold online and via retail outlets such as Sears.
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