Thomson Announces RCA-Brand eBook Reading Devices

Posted on August 23, 2000

Thomson multimedia has announced that it will introduce an RCA-brand eBook line of electronic reading devices at the New York is Book Country book fair, on September 24, 2000 in New York City. Sold under the RCA brand name, the new eBook devices will license technology from Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. Gemstar recently purchased NuvoMedia, Inc. and SoftBook, two eBook device manufacturers.

Held annually since 1979, New York is Book Country was selected as a launch venue because it celebrates books and reading. The event attracts more than 250,000 people to Fifth Avenue in New York on a Sunday afternoon and counts Children's Services Division of the New York Public Library as a beneficiary. RCA representatives will be on-site to demonstrate the new eBook products in the fair's inaugural New Technology Pavilion.

``We want to enhance the art of reading, as digital technology makes possible new capabilities that we believe readers will truly appreciate. RCA is committed to bringing our proven record of developing and marketing products that deliver on consumer's wants and needs to the nascent electronic book category,'' said Lou Lenzi, Vice President of New Media Services Business Development at Thomson. ``We are excited to lend our support to the New York is Book Country event and to give book fair attendees a first look at the two new eBook models from RCA.''

Both new RCA products, the REB1100 and the REB1200, are portable electronic reading devices. Both products feature a backlit, touch-sensitive liquid crystal display to enhance readability. Suggested retail prices for both models and details on content availability will be announced at September's New York event. Both products are expected to be available in October.

The REB1100 was designed as a compact, lightweight model with a 5.5`` (diagonal measurement) monochrome LCD touch-screen. The REB1100 stores approximately twenty novels, or 8,000 average paperback pages, with 8MB of memory. The device also features an upgrade slot for a 64MB SmartMedia memory upgrade card to increase storage capacity. An internal modem in the device permits users to access their personal electronic library shelf and new content from any standard telephone line. The REB1100 can also be connected to a computer through a USB port or infrared link.

The RCA REB1200 eBook features an 8.5`` (diagonal measurement) color LCD touch-screen. The REB1200 was designed for readers who prefer to view color-intensive content. The REB1200 comes with 8MB of memory, the equivalent of approximately 5,000 pages of color content and text. The memory of the REB1200 can also be supplemented with additional Compact Flash memory cards. In addition to a 56K modem, the REB1200 also includes an Ethernet port for faster book downloads over a broadband network, cable modem, or DSL line.