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Vodafone Spain Launches Microvision’s SHOWWX Laser Pico Projector

Ben Averch

December 1st, 2009
by Ben Averch


Hi all,

A few weeks ago, we let you know that one of the world’s leading mobile operators had placed an order for our SHOWWX laser pico projector, and that additional information would be forthcoming shortly. Today, we’re pleased to share with you that our customer is Vodafone. Vodafone issued their own press release today regarding their launch of SHOWWX, and here is an English translation:

Vodafone SHOWWX News

Original Vodafone PR (Spanish)

VODAFONE SPAIN LAUNCHES MICROVISION’S SHOWWX Laser Pico Projector

The “SHOWWX” laser pico projector is an innovative laser portable projector that projects large size pictures as it connects to a mobile phone or a PC or a laptop computer

Vodafone Business and professional customers will be able to benefit from this innovative device via the Points Program or together with the Nokia Mini N97 Smartphone starting from 289 €.

Madrid, 1st of December, 2009. - Vodafone Spain launches the SHOWWX pico projector, an innovative portable projector thanks to Microvision Inc. (NASDAQ:MVIS), a global leader in innovative ultra-miniature projection display and image capture products for mobility applications.

The SHOWWX pico projector uses revolutionary laser-based display technology that delivers large, colorful, bright, and vivid images that are always in focus, regardless of projection distance

The accessory product is a simple plug-n-play pico projector for people on-the-go who wants to spontaneously view and share mobile TV, movies, photos, presentations and more contents. Customers can take the pocket-sized projector anywhere, plug it into their portable media players, mobile phones, notebooks, MP3 and other portable mobile media devices with TV-Out or VGA functionality and share a big screen experience with friends, family or business associates. Depending on the ambient light, the projected images range in size from 12” to 150”.

New customers can have this innovative device from 289 € (without vat). Customers also will be available through the Points Program, for example for a client with 1200 points, will be available for 247 € (this price includes permanence). SHOWWX also will be marketed jointly with the smartphone Mini Nokia N97.

Alexander Tokman, President and CEO of Microvision said: ““We are proud that Vodafone Spain sells the SHOWWX for its customers. We believe that SHOWWX will provide a truly enhanced visual experience to Vodafone’s customers and greatly enhance functionality of their mobile devices.”

“The introduction of the Microvision SHOWWX laser pico projector in Spain presents a great opportunity for Vodafone to offer our customers new and exciting display capabilities to enhance the experience with their mobile devices,” – explained Ignacio Roman, Head of Terminals Spain and Portugal at Vodafone.


This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 1st, 2009 at 10:36 AM and is filed under Uncategorized.
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26 Responses to “Vodafone Spain Launches Microvision’s SHOWWX Laser Pico Projector”

  1. cowpaddiediver Says:

    December 1st, 2009 at 10:55 AM |

    Great news about Vodafone, but how come only release in Spain?? I am a long term investor and I am wondering if MVIS is constrained in making any news releases because of their recent stock offerings. I would expect a bigger press release in this country, now that a product is actually available

  2. Pierre Says:

    December 1st, 2009 at 10:57 AM |

    How about a real PR. Following the dilution, this would be a great NEWS for other than the followers of the blogs. Investors should not have to read Spanish news channels or blogs to find out about their investment!

  3. Warren Says:

    December 1st, 2009 at 11:45 AM |

    Great news! And congratulations! Just curious, why no official press release?

  4. GT Says:

    December 1st, 2009 at 2:56 PM |

    you guys can’t manage to post your own PR about this launch?

    We (the investors) BARELY get any info as it is, and are left to discern which articles are factual and which aren’t.

    The leaders in engineering, should also be the leaders in signing deals and communicating such information to the world.

  5. GT Says:

    December 1st, 2009 at 6:05 PM |

    So let me see if I am getting this right…It’s ok for everyone else to name Names and provide specifics…just not Microvision? The cumulative effect here is that we get “a Carrier” 2-3 weeks ago…we get an article in Spanish saying Vodophone is the Carrier and they are bundling the SHOW WX with a Nokia phone 1-2 weeks ago…Today “Vodophone Spain” says they are the Carrier…The U.S. investing public still probably has no clue what is going on because they aren’t detectives who read through websites and foreign publications…and the effect is that we have a stock selling for 3$ and change…

    Do you think the message is getting out?

  6. Ben Averch Says:

    December 1st, 2009 at 6:36 PM |

    My original comment got accidentally whacked by the blog moderator…

    Bottom line is, we had already announced that we had carrier and OEM partners for SHOWWX and then the customers have their own timeline for press, etc. We don’t want to be too redundant with “official” PRs as there are numerous channels to communicate to the world at large.

  7. Olden Gray Says:

    December 1st, 2009 at 6:41 PM |

    Great news! We devoted followers had pretty much expected this since there have been Spanish language leaks from Spain. Probably wise to start in a small market since supply of Show WX is constrained for now. Let’s hope that the experience in Spain lights the fuse for a rapid growth world wide — and our supply chain capabilty grows to support it.

    Olden Gray

  8. uncle phat Says:

    December 2nd, 2009 at 12:21 AM |

    Great work microvision,Iam looking forward to seeing how well the end user likes the product.

  9. Uvula Says:

    December 2nd, 2009 at 7:51 AM |

    I can understand why MVIS did not announce this before Vodafone, but now that Vodafone has a press release shouldn’t MVIS follow this up with their own in the US? Your explanation of “their are numerous channels to communicate to the world at large” doesn’t make sense when there has been NO news in the US. Most people are not aware of the good news, and the few people that are aware are suspicious that something funny is going on due to the fact that no one in the world can actually buy anything yet.

  10. stangatic Says:

    December 2nd, 2009 at 7:53 AM |

    The original PR did not identify the OEM and was vailed in mystery and promises that the OEM would be identified when they launched their marketing effort. This blog while informational is only follow by the few who are invested in this company. The PR from Vodaphone was only released in Spain and most of the investing community does not know who the OEM is or the truly great news this is for MVIS. The validation of the technology confirmed by an OEM of Vodaphone’s stature should be shouted from the roof top and announced in an official PR from MVIS so the world may know and the company fulfill its obligation to the shareholder to build share holder value.

  11. Warren Says:

    December 2nd, 2009 at 7:58 AM |

    Believe me, no one thinks you guys are anywhere close to being redundant. Not to mention anywhere close to being redundant. (See how I did that?) Quite the opposite. That sucking sound is the lack of information, guidance, numbers, etc. If MVIS is worried about being redundant, then don’t release a statement until that statement has meat on the bones.

  12. John Says:

    December 2nd, 2009 at 8:45 AM |

    Vodafone has now publicized the campaign in Spain, so what is wrong it announcing in the US that the ShowWX is available in Spain now? Vodafone is going to have a marketing campaing in Spain, but just in case IR hasn’t noticed, we are not in Spain. I mean there has to be a reason, right?

  13. DueDillinger Says:

    December 2nd, 2009 at 10:09 AM |

    “We don’t want to be too redundant with “official” PRs as there are numerous channels to communicate to the world at large.”

    To the investing community, the announcement of yet another dilutive, discounted offering trumps the Vodaphone news. The Vodaphone deal should have been mentioned in the offering release to diffuse the fear and loathing of equity finance. It would have been a perfect opportunity to convey the more desirable image of progress without the ‘redundancy’ of a separate release.

    Microvision must learn the art of self-promotion. There is nothing wrong with building demand for the PicoP in advance of US distribution.

  14. w33d Says:

    December 2nd, 2009 at 10:46 AM |

    Cheers, salut desde barcelona amb amor!

  15. Ben Averch Says:

    December 2nd, 2009 at 11:54 AM |

    Thanks all for your comments. I understand where you’re coming from.

    It really is great to have such passionate and involved stakeholders.

    Thanks,
    Ben

  16. Warren Says:

    December 2nd, 2009 at 12:13 PM |

    Ben, you say Micovision prefers not to be redundant, yet I have now received two PR notifications from Microvision regarding the closing of the public offering of common stock.

  17. uncle phat Says:

    December 2nd, 2009 at 1:24 PM |

    sorry ben

  18. George Says:

    December 2nd, 2009 at 1:34 PM |

    We need world-class TV & YouTube commercials produced NOW! We need to create world-wide consumer awareness now — so consumers can plan their purchases. Otherwise, they may buy our competitors projector products without knowing what they are missing.

    We need an informed public and consumer damand!!! It would be worth a half a million$$ +- to get super-nice, top-flight television commercials produced and distributed.

  19. wetrag Says:

    December 2nd, 2009 at 3:11 PM |

    great job to the folks at MVIS for getting to this point….qiute an amazing run the last two years. you guys could put a timeline on the site….the story is quite compelling.

    Alex T., are we inside the 10 yard line yet? Do you still expect Microvision to be a technology juggernaut? Your players might have received a pep talk and a party, but the fans in the stadium are in obvious need of something more substantial than a spanish webpage blurb. For once, it would be nice to see some hard #’s.

  20. madfgurtbn Says:

    December 2nd, 2009 at 4:25 PM |

    Just one more voice in the chorus, here. If it was worth issuing a cryptic PR about Vodafone in October, it is definitely worth announcing the name now, in English, in the U.S.

    Also, why have the VIP’s not received the news about Vodafone?

    From the November 9 VIP email:
    “Microvision will update VIPs regarding where and how our distribution partners (such as Uniden and Mint) are planning to sell the SHOWWX and private-labeled laser pico projector.”

    The failure to notify the VIP’s is just one more insult to the VIP’s. You have a list of thousands of people who opted in to your email list. Just one more example of continuing failure to follow through on promises to consumers and shareholders. VIP was supposed to be a monthly email, but we’ve only got three messages this year. VIP was supposed to get first dibs on the ShowWX, but that was false, and not disclosed to the VIP’s in a timely manner. And now VIP was recently told they would recieve updates on retail distribution, but that didn’t happen, either.

    It’s disappointing to see the opportunities squandered like this. These are unforced errors.

    Sigh.

  21. Steve Says:

    December 3rd, 2009 at 8:31 AM |

    Also, you might use QCOM as an example of PR strategy. They also produce a product used “inside” another product (cell phones coincidentally) and they let their OEM’s and Partners make initial and seperate PR and Media announcements, but then follow up with their own PR notices stating something to the effect of “QCOM is proud to announce and be associated with XYZ company, blah, blah, blah…”

    And, it’s not always what someone does, but what they don’t do. Meaning, why in the world a company would not do what is mentioned above, is the perplexing issue. It’s pretty basic and elementary. But the fact that it’s not being done makes people wonder lots of things, i.e., are you understaffed? other issues at hand? etc…

    Just constructive criticism and thoughts from an interested shareholder

    Best wishes,
    Steve

  22. ukedog Says:

    December 4th, 2009 at 2:53 PM |

    AAXA out of California is selling Pico projectors at $219 and $349 online. Why should I fly to Spain to get a SHOWWX?

  23. Ben Averch Says:

    December 4th, 2009 at 3:49 PM |

    Ukedog, go for it. All pico projectors are not equal, however…!

  24. Disappointed VIP Says:

    December 7th, 2009 at 5:37 PM |

    I too am dissapointed in the way the VIP’s and the public in general are left hanging on little to no news, I was amoung some of the first VIP’s to register, MVIS performed poorly in the area of fulfilling minimum expectations, in the way of offering a SHOW WX to VIP’s or timely news releases except for dillution..news… USA consumers are in the dark!

  25. ukedog Says:

    December 8th, 2009 at 11:56 AM |

    I suggest you close down your blogs. You aren’t helping your cause or the advance of your products with responses like that.

  26. Tim Says:

    December 10th, 2009 at 2:16 PM |

    Yeah, your communication sucks, and it’s not like it’s hard to do!

    Also sucks that you’re selling this to evil mobile carriers first rather than to the people who have signed up to your ‘VIP’ mailing list. I despise the bundling tactics of mobile networks (much better to buy the phone separately), and bundling a pico-projector is perhaps even more evil.