I am shocked and saddened by the news we just received:

“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.  

This is very sad. Looks like the Philips Video system VC2000. Great quality but bad marketing so it didn't catch VHS. I thing i have to move on to another platform Ipad/Ipod......

This is indeed very sad :o(

You would think they could have sold this business line instead of just discontinuing it. Hopefully they will look for a buyer.

Actually, I think this whole thing with restricting the access makes sense now - since Philips no longer have an interest in this business, they will likely plan to sell it to one of the now former competitors. And since none of them are exactly DIY- friendly, I wouldn't be surprised if one of the preconditions was to start eliminating the DIY/hobbyist niche.

Now posted at CEPro as well
[Link: cepro.com]

Why make the new website then? And all these changes?

Either way it ends up just like the ipronto, customer is screwed in the end. I will never buy another philips product again. I just wish I listened to my self before with the iPronto.

Why do you have a Problem the remote still works you have all the firmeware and software you need, just think about all the people loosing there jobs ...

I understand there is a bigger picture. However, as a customer who invested thousands into a product line that is now defunct and doesn't operate 100% how it should.

Wifi dropouts,
Remotes that turn themselves on and off until the battery drains. (my 2 biggest complaints)

I feel it is within my rights to be aggravated.

Also with windows 8 announced as being released in 2 years, means I have to keep a computer strictly for programming with the current software. To some it may mean nothing, but to me it has completely ruined my opinion of philips as a whole.

Why bother sending us on a goose chase for some registration code if they have no plans of continuing the product.

So the TSW9500 will never materialize?

or this www.pocket-lint.com/news/36494/philips-pronto-iphone-app-coming

Eleson and Rody,

You are likely correct. They will never materialize, at least not under a Philips name. I am hoping that the division can be sold off and integrated/rebranded. However, as Barry has pointed out. We have the latest software and firmware for the Pronto that does indeed work on XP or Windows 7 so we should be good to go for quite some time.

Lyndel

you're supposed to have a professional do it for you in the first place anyway..cheap always means expensive in the long run, if you had a CI, although philips closed the line, the CI would have still be there for you for support but not for parts of course!


a guess ... either bad programming or cheap 3rd party networking product being used..


why do you see the need to be a cheep and move whenever microsoft moves anyway.. i still have windows xp and doing well fine for everything I need. XP is the base of atleast the next 10 windows versions to come..



I feel your pain but lashing out on the net won't be of any help to you.. it's an unfortunate situation.. there are businesses out there that have spent time and stocked alot of pronto products and they'd have to redo EVERYTHING, taking on other lines of remotes, training etc.. it's hard for everyone ;)

This news comes at a rather painfull time. Right before the release of Pep v3 and the controller and 3th party remote support. If they would atleast continue and release those it would make a transfer much easier. I'm absolutely speechless, I've seen the thread when it was new and didn't know what to say... Now all I can do is hope that they either change their mind or find a buyer. If not I'm moving over to Android tablets. Amx and Crestron are way to expensive and closed.

And Max about the new site and changes, you didn't really think that the Pronto devision decided to shut it self down? Looks like a corporate decission to me, I think they didn't even know this last monday.

Just crazy!

I heard a wierd rumor during CEDIA. The contact would not tell me any specifics but it involved Philips and he said it would be a jaw-dropper! I guess this was it.

Just a shame. The Pronto Division always had a lot of potential. Philips appeared conflicted if the products should be for the consumer or for the professional installers for a long time and waffled back-and-forth many times.

They just kept shooting themselves in the foot through odd product decisions and even worse distribution/business decisions. They tried dilligently to get back some market share with the great efforts in the past 3-4 years but I guess it was not enough.

Terrible to hear. Hope some company steps up and picks it up even though the press release said they already tried and found no interested buyers.

Wondering what commitment they will make to the lone US repair facility as far as parts and the support timeframe?

Dave
RemoteQuest.com