NEW YORK – Audiovox Communications Corp., Hauppauge, N.Y., has tapped into the computer expertise of its 5 percent owner, Toshiba Corp., to develop a combination cell phone and personal digital assistant that will go on sale late this year.
Verizon Wireless and Sprint PCS have given the handset maker letters of intent to buy the new device, which will run on a Microsoft Corp. operating system, said Philip Christopher, president and chief executive officer of Audiovox Communications, at the recent Wall Street Analyst Forum.
“We do not expect it to be a big part of our 2001 sales, but Verizon and Sprint will make a big promotion. They are looking for ways to drive airtime. They will subsidize these products aggressively by giving their retailers, agents and direct sales channels heavy rebates,” he said.
“Toshiba has tremendous experience in mobile computing, unlike Motorola, Nokia and Ericsson, which have no experience in it.
