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The article focuses on the satellite television (TV) systems for automobiles launched at the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show. At the show, Kenwood introduced a system that receives the new Modeo satellite TV service that would require a miniature antenna about the size of a satellite radio antenna. Alpine also entered the market with the first Sirius satellite-video-ready rear-seat entertainment system. The company also plans to offer a module that will allow it to work with a video-capable iPod. Prototype DVD/monitors cable of touch-screen control of XM video and audio were also demonstrated by XM and Audiovox.

The article focuses on the car video systems that will be launched by Alpine. The car video system called PKG-RSE2 is compatible with Sirius satellite video service and the video iPod. Other products and prototypes introduced by Alpine at the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show include a Bluetooth adapter that is stereo capable and can stream music from the iRadio capable cellular phones from Motorola, and a prototype iPod adapter that can stream audio and video to other Alpine systems.

This article hears Steve Witt, vice president of brand marketing at Alpine, talk about a flexible strategy for selling HD Radio to be introduced by his company at Consumer Electronics Show in 2006. According to Wit, Alpine will be introducing a black box HD radio tuner. It can be added to any of the company's 2006 model year ahead units featuring Ai-Net. The new gear, Witt noted, is targeted to early adopters and will be available in March 2006. Witt said his company is very committed to HD Radio.

The article provides information on the original equipment manufacturers (OEM) integration products launching at the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show. The second-generation V-Hub Pro from Alpine lets users plug in satellite radio, iPods or navigation devices to allow them to work with an OEM screen-based system. The Fix8 prototype OEM integration device is shown by JBL. The 3Sixty.1 and 3Sixty.2 from Rockford Fosgate allow the addition of subwoofers, amplifiers as well as iPod, MP3 and other devices to either a factory or aftermarket system.

The article reports on the popularity of Bluetooth technology. Suppliers are recognizing the importance of Bluetooth because more telephones incorporate it and more U.S. states are passing laws requiring handsfree use of cellular telephones in automobiles. At the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show, companies including Alpine, Jensen, Kenwood, Panasonic and Pioneer are offering Bluetooth-compatible 2006 head units that require adapter kits. It is also possible for Bluetooth to replace the FM transmitter once costs come down.

This article reports on the decline of low-end CD player market in the U.S. in 2005. According to the NPD Group/NPD Techworld, sales for CD players under $200 declined 4% in units between January and August 2005, compared to the period in 2004. Similarly, dollar volume declined 6%. Both CD player manufacturers Alpine and Pioneer said their sales in the over $150 category were up this year. However, despite the industry trend, CD player manufacturers Sony and Audiovox said the low end is one of their healthier segments in CD players.

The article reports that a ground-breaking mobile multimedia system for in-car entertainment, produced by Alpine Electronics Inc., debuted in Jaguar's show-stopping Advanced Lightweight Coupe concept in Detroit. The innovation combines Alpine's acclaimed PulseTouch technology with Alpine's first ever Macromedia Flash graphics system. Alpine insists the use of the touch screen and its graphical user interface now allows for much cleaner lines to the dash, reducing the number of buttons and making selection less bewildering.

This article reports that although many suppliers met with middling success when they introduced hard-drive-based (HDD) 12-volt players in 2003, some are starting to talk again of new audio/video media servers for the car. Keith Burnett, Pioneer's product planning manager, said that mass storage is coming down in price. On the other hand, Audiovox officials said it is in the developmental stage of offering an in-dash head unit with hard drive memory. For simple music storage, Alpine officials believe an iPod connection is a better solution. Both AAMP of America, under the Peripheral Electronics brand, and Directed Electronics showed new mass storage devices at the International Consumer Electronics Show in January 2005 for both audio and video. Peripheral displayed a prototype of a removable 200-gigabyte audio/video server that can sit in a docking station in the car. The unit has a Universal Serial Bus port and accepts MPEG-4 video so users can store video as well as MP3 music. In addition, the product also has Dolby Digital. According to AAMP of America vice president/chief operating officer, Ron Freeman, the audio/video server can store 50,000 songs or 4,000 CD. Also, users can transfer it into the home and place it on top of a television and it will link up to a video system.

This article reports on the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) integration solutions launched by Alpine in 2005. Alpine's new V-Hub module enables all Alpine Ai-net products to interface with a vehicle that has an existing screen-based OEM system. The V-Hub module has a tentative shipping date in April and will carry an estimated price of $299. A second OEM integration product is a series of aftermarket modules for the OEM JCl (Johnson Controls) overhead rail system called RailPort. This standardized overhead rail is used in Ford minivans, Sport Utility Vehicles and larger pickup trucks, and it is currently being adopted by Chrysler and General Motors, said Alpine. It is estimated that there will be over 1 million vehicles in 2005 with the JCl RailPort, projected to grow to 10 million vehicles by 2008, Alpine said. Currently the modules attached to the JCl rail include storage devices and overhead lighting, said Alpine. But the company is introducing a 10.2-inch monitor, called the PKG-RSE1, with built-in FM modulator that can send information to the factory radio. Also available is a JCl-ready DVD player. The monitor may be purchased at a target price of $599. The package with the DVD player is expected to carry a retail price near $799. Alpine said it will not sell this new JCl overhead rail line to car dealers.

The article reports that Alpine Corp. has stopped selling its car audio line to the retail giant Circuit City Stores Inc. after a ten-year partnership. The spokesman for Circuit City said that Alpine and Circuit City would go their separate ways and that Alpine's line would be phased out through the end of the year. In the past year, Circuit City began offering its own brands of car audio and video called Verge, Esa and Liquid Video.