Thomson Consumer Electronics is going to be first out of the gate in Canada with an entry into an emerging new technology category, the network computer.
The electronics company is launching the RCA Net Computer – a product that combines Internet access with television – in late May in the u.s., and shortly thereafter in Canada.
The RCA Net Computer is based on the reference design and NC System Software Suite of Network Computer, a subsidiary of Redwood Shores, Calif.-based Oracle Corporation, the world’s second-largest software company.
The new RCA device is a set-top Internet access product that will enable consumers to use their tvs to surf the Web, send and receive electronic mail, bank on-line, shop on-line and perform other interactive activities from the comfort of their homes.
It is smaller than a vcr and will connect to any standard color tv.
The Network Computer system is not the only platform in the new network-based computing category.
The NetPC, a new platform spearheaded by industry giants Microsoft and Intel, is also set to launch.
The NetPC, rolling out around June, will bear the names of major PC manufacturers such as Compaq and Dell.
The first version of the NetPC has been designed specifically for business use to help companies reduce the cost of owning and operating computer networks. Consumer editions are expected to be available next year.
Both Network Computer and NetPC products rely on the Internet or a network for installing and automatically upgrading software.
The NetPC, unlike the Network Computer, will have a hard drive to allow users to store data.
Both systems are cheaper than pcs currently on the market, with the NetPC for business use expected to start at about us$1,000.
Ken Frankum, manager of digital and multimedia products for Thomson Consumer Electronics Canada, says model selection is still being finalized but the opening price point for the RCA Net Computer will be around cdn$399.
An advertising and public relations campaign will support the introduction of the RCA Net Computer. Thomson’s agency, Bowen & Binstock of Toronto, will handle advertising.
Frankum says Thomson is also exploring the convergence of technology with Compaq Computer Corporation and will be testing a hybrid tv-pc product – not based on the NC System – later this year.
Zenith Electronics of Glenview, Ill., which has also formed an alliance with Network Computer, will introduce its family of Internet TV products in the second half of this year.
The initial product offering will be a set-top box but John Taylor, company spokesperson, says Zenith plans to eventually build the NC System software into television sets so users will be able to interact with the Internet right out of the box.
The heart of both computers and television products based on the NC System is the NC Server. The NC Server provides software and stores user files.
Larger companies will likely operate their own NC Server. Small businesses and consumers will use an NC Server through their Internet Service Provider.
Network computers obtain access to their word processing, e-mail, presentation graphics, games and spreadsheet software programs directly from the network, where they also save their files.
The user’s information is safeguarded by the NC Card, a smartcard that saves user profile data and allows users access to their personal files and e-mail from any network computer, anywhere.
Computers based on the NC System will also be launched into the marketplace this year.
Two original equipment manufacturers licensed by Network Computer – UK-based Acorn Computer Group and Funai Electric of San Jose, Calif. – are building NC computers for name-brand companies interested in the technology.
Funai, a company that makes home electronics for brands such as Magnavox, ge, rca, Hitachi, Mitsubishi and its own Symphonic label, will also be in full production for its NC Janesa brand computer by June.
