PocketBook and Netronix to merge as PocketBook Global

[igorsk]

Thanks to Forkosigan for the English version of PR.

Netronix Inc. and PocketBook declare joint venture

Las Vegas, USA – January, 7th, 2010 – Netronix Inc. and PocketBook announced creation of the new joint venture today. The decision was based on detailed researches of the world’s electronic market needs. The merged enterprise will operate under the PocketBook Global.
Two e-readers industry leaders bring synergy to the unified company – on the one hand PocketBook develops unique software and designing readers and on the other hand Netronix Inc. has a great experience in manufacturing network products and electronic devices.
International CES 2010 show in Las Vegas, USA, was chosen to declare creating of new joint venture not accidentally. Directing to product high quality and innovation, PocketBook Global is to become one of the world’s leaders of the electronic readers market.
“In view of global warming Netronix Inc. has decided to proceed to manufacture environmentally friendly products – the e-book readers on the basis of E-Ink Technology. Co-operation with PocketBook holds on for a long time successfully. We are sure that the electronic readers PocketBook Global will have a brilliant future”, - President of Netronix Inc., Mr. Arthur Lu.
“Collaboration with Netronix Inc. opens a new wave of impressive possibilities for both companies. PocketBook achieves higher level in development and reduces chances for other e-reader producers to reach the same positions. We are glad to meet the e-readers PocketBook Global in 2010 globally”, - President of PocketBook, Mr. Igor Popov.
PocketBook Global intends to put on sale more than 20 models of e-readers in 2010. The new company’s annual turnover is projected at above USD 165 mln. Representative offices will be located in major world markets - USA, Germany, Russia, China and some others.

Contact information:
Taiwan: Lisa Lin, +886 2 29120211 ext:34, lisa_lin@netronixinc.com
Ukraine: Michael Kholmanskikh, +38050 4888444, mike@pocketbook.ua
USA: Yaroslav (Jerry) Bondarenko (914) 374-5067, ybondarenko@pocketbookreader.com
Germany: Anatoli Loucher, +49 (0) 172 3153898, info@pocketbook.de

Reference:

Netronix, Inc. – World’s manufacturer of electronic readers, network products, POS-terminals and multimedia devices. Founded in 1997 by group of professionals company has US$8,600,000 funds. Headquarters are located in Hsinchu, Taiwan. Details – www.NetronixInc.com.

PocketBook – PocketBook is quite young but rapidly growing company with current turnover more than US$ 25,000,000. This is an independent company, known by its extremely friendly software which allows to read books, play audio books, look pictures and has a lot of additional applications as well. Details – www.PocketBookReader.com

This is pretty big.

[igorsk]

the-ebook.org claims that HQ will be in Kiev, Ukraine o.O.

[mtravellerh]

Wow! I'm impressed! This is a very surprising move.

[brecklundin]

FINALLY the info is out there in public!! yeesh...it was making me nutz!!

[Godzil]

Whoa what a bad news for a lot of netronix device resellers

[Forkosigan]

Originally Posted by Godzil

Whoa what a bad news for a lot of netronix device resellers

Sorry, C'est la vie ....

But I think it should not be scared ahead of time what will be in the future policy of the company in relation to netronix device resellers still unknown.

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by Godzil

Whoa what a bad news for a lot of netronix device resellers

so? Existing contracts will still have to be honored or renegotiated, but there are more than a few brands out there which are nothing more than rebadged devices with generic firmware...elimination of those brands can only help the market grow thanks to well designed firmware nad hardware. The rebranders do not provide solid firmware because they simply do not have the cash nor to they care to provide a well made product. This merging will create a company with experience and expertise in both areas. Also they won't need to sell hardware to just anyone as time goes on and can be more selective.

I bet other brands will also either merge, sellout or die off...and all of that is the natural evolution of a free market...best news of CES hands down!

[Godzil]

Ho yeah for sure, but this is the announced dead of the Cool-er, Astak "mentor", Elonex and some others ^^

And what I know about netronix, is that they build on demand so if they now don't want to build anymore for X or Y, X or Y will die

[mtravellerh]

As far as I know, Astak is part of Netronix anyway!

[EowynCarter]

Originally Posted by Godzil

Whoa what a bad news for a lot of netronix device resellers

Yeah. That has been my reaction.
Not sure where that one is going. And while we don't need tons of clones, i hope it won't kill diversity.

I also hope it won't change too much as far as bookeen is conserned, i need them to be able to provide support for my opus

This merging will create a company with experience and expertise in both areas.

Yeap, that could get some intersting results.

[netseeker]

Originally Posted by Godzil

Ho yeah for sure, but this is the announced dead of the Cool-er, Astak "mentor", Elonex and some others ^^

And what I know about netronix, is that they build on demand so if they now don't want to build anymore for X or Y, X or Y will die

We will see. I don't think that netronix will stop manufacturing for other companies in the near future.

[fjtorres]

Actually, it will provide the company with first rate expertise in *three* areas: software, hardware and industrial design *ergonomics*. A great deal of the success of the PB360 is its pinpoint-perfect ergonomics (well, except for the stiffness of the wing buttons but those are effectively optional in daily use. ). Just compare the original Netronix design and the Opus to the PB360 changes from the Pocketbook guys and its clear those boys had more than software in mind.
Hopefully the attention to human actors engineering will continue in future models.

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by Godzil

Ho yeah for sure, but this is the announced dead of the Cool-er, Astak "mentor", Elonex and some others ^^

And what I know about netronix, is that they build on demand so if they now don't want to build anymore for X or Y, X or Y will die

Any of those "brands" can go to another mfg should they not be able to make an agreement with Pocketbook Global. No reason those brands cannot continue to do business as usual that that for whatever you will.

And I am sure Pocketbook Global will not just dump other brands. Those sort of deals pay the rent. Still it will likely be more efficient to move away from the build-on-demand model if that is how they have been doing things. It is one thing to nurture a new client along. But at some point it becomes clear some clients will never grow and actually can represent lost revenue because the time spent build for them could be better used for a higher end client.

I think this is not only great for the industry & consumer, many were already noticing that the market is currently lousy with re-badged clones that differ only in name. That only slows down the factory because unless the brand boxes their devices themselves each brand needs it's own packaging. Kinda hard to deal with.

If it helps to understand, laptops are essentially produced using the same model. A given factory can build units for a dozen or more brands. Except in the laptop market there can be variation between components for each brand.

I world not worry about any brands which turn teats up after this because they were destine for that anyway. In fact I could see several of those brands to merge into a bigger and stronger brand...and again, that is only good for the rest of us because it lowers overhead, increases profits for the new company allowing them to be more competitive in the market because where they were ordering 500 pcs. at a whack, now they can order 5000 pcs. thus getting a better price so they can then compete on price and even quality if they choose to do so.

The next few weeks will be interesting as the industry begins to watch the pieces move around the board. Now this is a FUN game...

[mtravellerh]

Originally Posted by netseeker

We will see. I don't think that netronix will stop manufacturing for other companies in the near future.

Well, I don't think that Netronix will continue to distribute its rather awkward generic firmware. At least I hope so. Maybe the owners of the Netronix hardware with generic software (Cool-er, Elonex) might one good day be able to use PB's software on their readers.

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by netseeker

We will see. I don't think that netronix will stop manufacturing for other companies in the near future.

exactly!! There are contracts which need to be honored for now, orders in the process of being filled and also bills to pay as the new organization plan is implemented...it takes time which allows these boutique brands to decide if they really want to remain in the reader market and if so, how can they protect thir brand and improve their positon in the market.

Also, Pocketbooks Global now can offer high end developer services to finally get these brands on board with real firmware rather than a lot of patches of dubious quality or outright kludges to get the "fix" out the door.