Acoustic Research Infinite Radio now on sale for $129.99
Remember that ARIR200 WiFi radio from back at CES? If not, you can take comfort in the fact that we're the forgiving type, but Acoustic Research has rung in to inform the world that the so-called Infinite Radio is now on sale. For those with short memories, this radio brings along Slacker support, on-demand weather forecasts from WeatherBug, MP3tunes music locker streaming, an AM / FM radio tuner, USB and Ethernet connections and enough internal memory to hold ten hours of audio. The device is available now at regional chain stores and nationally online for $129.99, and if it's the iPod-friendly ARIR600i you're after, that'll hit the market later in the year for $199.99. Full release is after the break.
Acoustic Research Internet Radio Now Available at Retail and Online
Major Content Partners, Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity, Simple Set-up
No Subscription Fees and Personalization Differentiate the New Line
Hauppauge, NY – March 27, 2009 - Audiovox Corporation (NASDAQ: VOXX) today announced that the first Acoustic Research branded Infinite Radio™, model ARIR200, is now available at regional chain stores and nationally online. The ARIR200 features virtually unlimited content options that set it apart from the competition in this new and exciting category. It offers built-in wireless connectivity and is simple to use – just customize listening preferences on the multilingual Personal Portal, listen to Slacker™ Personal Radio, receive on demand weather forecasts from WeatherBug® and stream personal music collection from a MP3tunes music locker. The Slacker, WeatherBug and MP3 tunes subscriptions are content partnerships included free with the product.
The ARIR200 also features AM/FM radio, USB and Ethernet connections and internal memory for up to 10 hours of recording off the Internet as well as the AM/FM bands. The ARIR200 was previewed at the 2009 International CES Show and is the first of two AR branded Internet radios expected to launch this year.
"In keeping with the AR commitment to quality and technology, we wanted to cut the tether to the PC and bring the vast Internet radio listening experience into other rooms of the home in a way unmatched by any other competitive product," said Tom Malone, president, Audiovox Electronics Corporation. "We added customization and content partners that will bring consumers an enhanced level of enjoyment available exclusively in the AR Infinite Radios."
Taking Internet Radio to a New Level
presonalportallogosSlacker Logo from websiteThe AR Infinite Radio™ experience starts with the online Personal Portal, which allows consumers to quickly select from more than 12,000 global music and talk stations, store their favorite genres and add custom stations, including any compatible podcast
The Acoustic Research Slacker partnership allows a direct connection to Slacker's Personal Radio Music Service, which delivers millions of tracks, 100 genre stations and more than 10,000 artist stations, all in CD quality sound. Users can also create their own music stations using Slacker content. The ARIR200 lets users listen to and rate songs and stations using the dedicated Heart, Ban and Tag buttons.
Weather information is one of the most frequently searched items on the Internet, making the WeatherBug partnership extremely valuable to consumers. Each AR Infinite Radio™ comes with a pre-paid subscription to WeatherBug's service, which includes one and three-day forecasts, continuous emergency weather alerts for the life of the product and instant text-to-speech conversion from six synthesized voices.
All Acoustic Research Infinite Radio™ owners will automatically receive a free Enhanced MP3tunes Music Locker with each purchase. This enhanced locker will provide Internet Radio users with 50% more storage space than users who create a non-premium account directly via the MP3tunes Web site, as well as unlimited streaming access to the music stored in the locker directly from the Internet Radio for the life of the product – with no additional fees.
Acoustic Research ARIR200
The ARIR200 Infinite Radio does double-duty as a high-performing Internet Radio and a full featured clock radio with automatic internet time sync. Alarm options ranging from Internet to terrestrial content and includes snooze and sleep options. Its stylish design looks as good on a desk as it does in a living room or on a bedroom nightstand. The ARIR200 lets users listen to and rate songs using the Heart, Ban and Tag options. It also has an AM/FM tuner with six preset buttons per source. MSRP: $129.99.
"At Acoustic Research, we were determined to give our customers an Internet radio experience that would include multiple content options, coupled with intuitive navigation, without sacrificing the consumer expectation for AR for quality products and state of the art features and design. The AR Infinite Radio™ line combines the most basic elements like traditional clock radio features to the most sophisticated like USB/Ethernet/Wi-Fi connections for live streaming and automatic firmware updates. The ARIR200 is easy to install and activate. For our retail partners we have provided an easy to use gateway into Internet radio that will open new sales and profit opportunities," Malone concluded.
Keep on the lookout for the ARIR600i Infinite Radio™, which is another high-performing Internet radio with a remote and an iPod® dock, which will hit the market later this year. MSRP $199.99.
