Harman Performance Group Steps Up Marketing Efforts.

By Joseph Palenchar

Elkhart, Ind. - The Harman performance A/V group (HPAV), which markets Harman's high-end home audio brands, is stepping up its advertising and promotion efforts as part of a revamped marketing and distribution strategy,

Group marketing VP Marc Kellom told TWICE that the his group was formed about seven months ago to consolidate sales and marketing of high-end audio brands Lexicon, Revel, and Mark Levinson. HPAV also took over responsibility for the high-end JBL Synthesis brand and for JBL speakers priced at about more than $3,000/pair. JBL Synthesis and more expensive JBL speakers were marketed previously by Harman Consumer, which continues to market JBL speakers priced under $3,000/pair, Infinity speakers, Harman Kardon electronics, and aftermarket car audio amps and speakers.

With the consolidation, Kellom assumed responsibility for marketing all HPAV brands. John Batliner took over sales responsibilities as sales VP, and Mark Graham, president of Harman's Crown pro-audio brand, added the title of HPAV president.

Together, they and other HPAV members executed a new distribution strategy that offers incentives to dealers of one brand to carry all HPAV brands. In the past, few dealers who carried one HPAV brand carried another, Kellom said. Now, because of sales-incentive programs and a new demo program, 'We are very close to having all U.S. dealers offering all brands,' Kellom said.

About 450 dealers sell HPAV products, down about 10-15 percent since the group's restructuring.

HPAV's distribution strategy emulates a strategy pursued by Harman's pro audio brands, Kellom noted. 'It's very powerful to have everyone aligned with all our brands,' he explained. Now, a single dealer can offer a complete home theater audio or stereo-music solution built from HPAV-brand components, he explained. Revel, for example, offers in-room and custom speakers; Levinson offers amplifiers, preamp/processors, and a CD/SACD player; and Lexicon offers preamp processors and a planned Blu-ray player, which will also play DVD-Audio discs, SACDs, and CDs. The JBL brand offers speakers, and JBL Synthesis offers a complete turnkey package of home-theater speakers and electronics.

Although it was a challenge to get dealers to bring in new brands in sour economic times, the group pulled it off through its incentive and demo programs, Kellom said.

Dealers were also attracted to the group's stepped-up advertising, promotion and dealer-support plans, he said. They include a significant boost in consumer advertising, a greater focus on advertising in luxury-oriented media, and a 53-foot tractor trailer with expandable sides to provide 1,000 square feet of demo space featuring working systems. The truck will support dealer promotional events and double as a rolling training tool that the group will take to dealers to train their sales staffs.

To advertise to audiophiles, the group will spend the same or more money as it has in the past but will expand to advertising in online audiophile sites, Kellom said. For the first time, he added, the brands will invest in a significant amount of advertising in luxury magazines to reach very affluent consumers who simply want the best.

Samsung Adds 4th Blu-ray HTiB

Joseph Palenchar

BY JOSEPH PALENCHAR

Ridgefield Park, N.J. - Samsung Electronics America is expanding its selection of Blu-ray-equipped modem to stream BD-Live content, standard- and high-definition movies from NetFlix, music from Internet music service Pandora, and movies from Blockbuster's streaming service. Blockbuster's service will be available through the four HTiBs in the fall after a home theater in a box (HTiB) systems with the launch of its first Blu-ray HTiB equipped with wireless surround speakers.

The $799 5.1-speaker HT-BD3252 will be available in August.

Like the company's current three BD-equipped HTiBs, the new model connects to a home network and networked broadband firmware upgrade.

The new model joins the 5.1-speaker $549 HT-BD1250, the $799 HT-BD8200 surround bar with virtual surround technology and wireless subwoofer, and the $799 HT-BD7200, which is the company's first BD-equipped HTiB with 2.1-speaker system and virtual surround.

Like the current three systems, the new system features PC networking to stream music and photos from a networked PC. All four also come with wired Ethernet, but the new model includes a wireless 802.11b/g/n/ dongle to wirelessly access the PC and Internet services. For the current three models, the dongle is a $79 option.

All four models also feature iPod/iPhone dock, Smart Volume, USB host port, and decoding of Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio.

Los Angeles Unified School District Becomes the Largest School District in the Country to Implement a District Wide Mass Notification Service.

District Selects Connect-ED(R) from The NTI Group, Inc. to Keep Students Safe and Parents Informed

SHERMAN OAKS, Calif., Oct. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The NTI Group, Inc. (NTI) announced today that the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has selected the Connect-ED notification service. The system will be used for school-to-parent communication in the event of an emergency, but will also be used for regular attendance notifications, as well as important school and district announcements.

"We applaud LAUSD officials for taking charge of student safety and utilizing the Connect-ED system to communicate with parents and organize staff during emergency situations," said Robin D. Richards, Chairman and CEO of NTI. "Effective communication during emergency situations is vital to student safety."

The Connect-ED service will also enable school administrators to increase their communication with the school community by sending messages in multiple languages to parents and staff members in a matter of minutes. This means that the district can ensure that parents will receive important information about the safety of their children in the language they use at home.

The Connect-ED service also allows LAUSD to engage parents by notifying them of important announcements, updates and meetings. The service can be used to inform parents of upcoming teacher/parent meetings and information about attendance, holidays, field trips and bus routes. It can also be tailored to send messages to parents with children in specific grades or to parents of students participating in a particular sports team or club.

The fully hosted service does not require additional hardware, so the Connect-ED service can be used from any telephone or computer with Internet access, allowing LAUSD administrators to send vital messages from wherever they are located -- even if they are evacuated in an emergency situation.

To ensure that important messages and alerts reach students and staff quickly, no matter what their preferred method of communication is, the Connect-ED system sends voice and text messages through four different modes of communication:

   -- Voice messages to home phones, work phones, cell phones, and e-mails   -- Text messages to cell phones, PDAs and other text-based devices   -- Written messages to e-mail accounts   -- Messages to TTY/TDD receiving devices for the hearing impaired     About The NTI Group  

The NTI Group, Inc. (NTI), a Delaware corporation, is a privately held company that provides award winning communication systems designed specifically for local, regional, state, and Federal government entities. The Connect family of services enables rapid dissemination of critical information via voice and text devices using its premier mass notification engine designed to allow users to quickly and easily record and send time-based notifications to thousands of people in minutes using just a telephone. NTI makes and distributes the Connect-ED(R), Connect-CTY(R), Connect-GOV(R), and Connect-MIL(R) systems, allowing users to target specific groups and/or geographic regions within their database(s) and engage recipients in two-way communication by asking them to respond to questions via their telephone keypads.

CONTACT: Elizabeth Freeman, +1-916-288-2201, for The NTI Group, Inc.

Private Launches on Yet Another IPTV Driven Video-on-Demand Service in Europe as Part of Digital TV Offer From Belgium's Leading Telecom.

BARCELONA, Spain, April 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Private Media Group Inc. announced today a multi-year agreement with the Belgacom Group, Belgium's leading telecom, for the supply of content for distribution via their Video-On-Demand (VOD) service on the Belgacom TV platform.

The agreement includes access to hundreds of titles from Private's proprietary movie library and includes both new releases as well as classic blockbuster titles. With this agreement Private takes another step forward in its aggressive strategy to be featured on all major IPTV & Cable VOD platforms in Western Europe by the end of 2007.

Berth Milton, CEO, President and Chairman of Private Media Group commented: "This is yet another agreement with a leading telco in the dynamic European IPTV/VOD market. We are very pleased with being able to add Belgium to our list of European territories in this new business area and look forward to working with Belgacom's outstanding Digital TV platform." Mr. Milton added: "The IPTV/VOD market is without doubt the fastest growing TV experience and compared to traditional broadcasting, such as Pay-Per-View in the US, our experience is that it generates higher sales per subscriber at a considerably lower cost. IPTV/VOD will most definitely be a significant source of both sales and profits for Private going forward."

   NOTES TO THE EDITOR   About Belgacom TV  

When launched in 2005, Belgacom TV was the first IPTV offer in Belgium. Today, the platform offers the Classic+ package of more than 70 channels, video-on-demand, thematic channel packages and "11", a channel which broadcasts all of Belgium's first-division football matches. Besides the digital sound and viewing quality, the advantages Belgacom TV has over its competitors are its channel offering and coverage. Unlike traditional analogue cable distributors, who with a limited number of TV channels have an 80 market share, the distribution of Belgacom TV is not limited to a certain municipality or province. The Belgian operator's TV offer is today available to 80 of Belgium's 4.1 million households.

About the Belgacom Group

The Belgacom Group is the benchmark Belgian provider in the field of integrated telecommunications services. With a history as the country's incumbent operator, the Belgacom Group, through its strong brands of Belgacom, Proximus, Telindus and Skynet, has developed a complete range of offers and solutions. Thanks to its 18,000-strong workforce, its expertise in fixed and mobile networks and its capacity to innovate, it is able to provide a reliable, high-quality service to all its customers -- whether they are private individuals, professionals, companies or organizations.

The Belgacom Group (BELG), quoted on Euronext Brussels since March 2003, posted total revenue of EUR 6.1 billion and a net operating profit before depreciation and amortization (EBIDTA) of EUR 2.1 billion for the financial year ending 31 December 2006.

   For more info: http://www.belgacom.be/    About Private Media Group  

With its 40 year track record, NASDAQ listed Private Media Group is a brand-driven world leader in proprietary content delivery in its genre and distributes premium quality content globally via a wide range of platforms including; more than 600 million mobile telephone handsets, broadband Internet, television broadcasting, DVDs and Magazines. Private Media Group owns the worldwide rights to its extensive archive of top-quality content, and also licenses its Private and "Silver Girls" trademarks internationally for a range of luxury consumer products.

Disclaimer

This release contains, in addition to historical information, forward- looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which reflect the Company's current judgments of those issues. However, because those statements are forward-looking and apply to future events, they are subject to such risks and uncertainties, which could lead to results materially different than anticipated by the Company.

   For further information please contact:    Gareth Davies   CUSTARD PR   gdavies@rainierpr.co.uk   Ph: +44 (0) 20 7494 6576   Cell ph: +44 (0) 7980 820994  

CONTACT: Gareth Davies of CUSTARD PR, +44 (0) 20 7494 6576, or cell, +44 (0) 7980 820994, gdavies@rainierpr.co.uk, for Private Media Group

Web site: http://www.belgacom.be/

LUCENT MERGER TALKS.(Business)

MURRAY HILL, N.J. -- Lucent Technologies Inc. and French telecom equipment maker Alcatel SA are discussing a business merger in what could be the start of consolidation among the companies that help power telephone and Internet networks.

Microsoft Announces Cool eBook Promotion for Hot Summer Reading; Sixty Best-Selling eBooks Are Available for Free Download, Showcasing Continuing Growth in eBook Market; More than 19,000 Commercial Titles Are Now Available for Microsoft Reader.

The time-honored tradition of bringing a few bestsellers along for summer vacation reading takes on a digital tone with today's announcement by Microsoft Corp. of 60 best-selling eBooks available for free* download by users of Microsoft(R) Reader. These books represent a wide cross-section of authors and books from a variety of publishers, such as "A Short History of Nearly Everything," by Bill Bryson; "The Joy Luck Club," by Amy Tan; "Fear Itself," by Walter Mosley; and "Beach Music," by Pat Conroy.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )

The 20-week promotion will feature three new titles each week, available at http://www.microsoft.com/reader/ . Once downloaded, each eBook can be read on a user's desktop or laptop PC, Pocket PC or Tablet PC. Each week, new content will be made available to expand each user's personal library of eBooks. More than 20,000 titles, including 19,000 commercial titles, are currently available for Microsoft Reader.

For both new and current users of Microsoft Reader, the initial download process will include an upgraded version of the software with a simpler installation and activation process, as well as enhanced security features. The new version is required to take advantage of the new promotional eBooks as well as future additions to the Microsoft Reader catalog; consumers also will be able to use it to read previously downloaded eBooks.

"We believe this summer promotion underscores the growing interest in reading eBooks," said Cliff Guren, group product manager of eReading at Microsoft. "Every month, more and more best-selling books are being released simultaneously in both print and eBook formats. The growing popularity of Pocket PCs and the introduction of Tablet PCs give customers really great mobile platforms for reading books on screen. We believe this promotion will encourage more consumers to give eBooks a try; our research shows that once customers actually start reading on screen with Microsoft Reader, they find it a really satisfying experience, and they purchase eBooks on a regular basis."

Guren also said that Microsoft is creating a new Microsoft Reader newsletter with Fictionwise Inc., one of the leading independent e-book retailers. The weekly newsletter will tell users about upcoming titles in the Microsoft free promotion, as well as new commercial releases. Customers will have the option to subscribe to the newsletter when they visit the Microsoft Reader home page. "We want to make sure consumers are aware that it's easy to get this exciting free eBook content throughout the summer months," Guren said.

About Microsoft Reader

Microsoft Reader 2.0 adheres to the traditions of classical typography for reading, with the added technology provided by Microsoft ClearType(R), which enhances the readability of type fonts on screen, particularly for laptop PCs and Tablet PCs. Microsoft Reader offers a clean, uncluttered layout; ample margins; proper spacing, leading and kerning; and powerful tools for marking, annotating and editing electronic documents. With Microsoft Reader, users can read electronic content on multiple devices, including notebook and desktop computers, Pocket PCs and now Tablet PCs. Microsoft has created a comprehensive online catalog of the more than 20,000 titles available for Microsoft Reader. The catalog, developed with Texterity Inc., provides seamless links to third-party sites so users can purchase and download these books. The catalog is available at http://www.mslit.com/ . More information on Microsoft Reader is available at http://www.microsoft.com/reader/ .

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.

* Connect-time charges may apply.

NOTE: Microsoft and ClearType are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Phil Missimore, +1-503-443-7000, or philm@wagged.com, or Rapid Response Team, +1-503-443-7070, or rrt@wagged.com, both of Waggener Edstrom, for Microsoft Corp.

Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/

Human drugs.

12964W

Triad, Fredericksburg, TX, March 30 (Dallas). The warning letter was issued in reference to Triad's marketing of various products as part of "protocols" for disease treatment and prevention. The agency objected to labeling for products on the company's Internet web site, which contained claims that the products were intended for the cure, mitigation, treatment and prevention of disease. Specifically the company was offering what it called "protocol packages," which included "homeostasis protocols" claiming cures and treatments for specific diseases, including multiple sclerosis, lupus, inflammatory diseases, gout and fibromyalgia. Another protocol package was promoted for lupus, and one was claiming that 'near miraculous' recoveries had been reported for obesity, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, chronic pain syndromes, neuropathies, chronic renal/kidney problems, all cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's), stroke, paralytic paraplegics, fibromyalgia, wound healing, nephropathy, retinopathy, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure and depression. NDA, Web

SBC Communications, Verizon Cut DSL Prices to Lure Internet Customers.

By Sanford Nowlin, San Antonio Express-News Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Jun. 11--Phone companies, eager to get a leg up on their cable industry competitors, have been slashing rates for speedy DSL Internet access almost as fast as their long-distance prices.

San Antonio-based SBC Communications Inc. last week dropped its consumer DSL price to $29.95 a month from $34.95 -- provided customers are willing to sign a one-year service contract.

And New York's Verizon Communications last month cut its residential DSL price by $10 to $34.95 a month. It also offers a $29.95 rate for customers who buy wireless, local and long-distance service from the company.

"Consumers don't really see a lot of technical differences between DSL and cable modem service," said Imran Khan, who tracks consumer broadband service for San Jose-based research firm Frost & Sullivan. "So, phone companies are now choosing to compete on a price." DSL providers have been trying to catch up with cable carriers, who have dominated the consumer broadband market.

As of March 2003, 21 million broadband subscribers accessed the Web via cable modems, while only 9 million used DSL, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project.

Phone companies want to narrow that gap, because owning the broadband connection to consumers' homes is vital to their survival, analysts said. DSL eventually will let consumers access a raft of services including movies on demand, games and low-cost or free long distance calls.

"It's critical that (phone companies) own the DSL pipe to the consumer's home, because everything's ultimately going to be going through that pipe," said Pat Comack, telecom analyst for brokerage Guzman & Co. in Miami.

"I think at the end of the day, and we're talking long term here, the only revenue these companies will get may be from DSL subscriptions."

Near term, phone companies want broadband to compensate for their lagging voice businesses. Under current telecom law, they're required to share their phone lines with competitors at discounted rates, which has meant less revenue from traditional phone service.

"DSL is a growth opportunity," said Ed Cholerton, SBC's vice president for Internet product management. "Our ability to grow our voice business has been severely hemmed in."

So far, the price-slashing approach seems to be working for SBC, the nation's leading DSL provider. Its broadband sales have for grown five consecutive quarters, and -- unlike many phone carriers -- new installations of its service are running almost neck-and-neck with cable across its 13-state service territory, officials said.

While some analysts predict cable companies will be forced to offer deep discounts to respond to the phone companies' new pricing, a spokesman for Time Warner, San Antonio's largest cable provider, said his company has no immediate plans to slash rates.

Time Warner charges $44.95 a month for its Road Runner cable modem service but discounts the price for customers who also subscribe to some of its cable television packages. The company maintains its service is faster than that of SBC's $29.95-a-month offering.

"Consumers realize they are getting a better value for their dollar with Road Runner," spokesman Jon Gary Herrera said. "We continue to see a steady stream of interest and installations of our product."

Does it make sense for phone companies like SBC, who already make thin profit margins on DSL, to hack away at their prices to win market share?

Sure, they say.

Phone companies launched consumer DSL in the late '90s at prices of up to $70 a month, but officials said they've since cut the costs of service.

Also, most phone carriers, SBC included, require customers to sign one-year contracts to take advantage of their special offers. Keeping them around that long allows the companies to recoup their investment, industry experts said.

"Their objective is to catch the customer first, even if they have to sacrifice some profitability," analyst Khan said. "Then a year or eight months later, you start to upsell them to a faster speed or convince them to sign up for some other services."

To see more of the San Antonio Express-News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.mysanantonio.com

(c) 2003, San Antonio Express-News. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

SBC, VZ, AOL,