iRex Technologies files for bankruptcy, partly due to US problems
By Donald Melanson 
posted June 10th 2010 6:08PM
posted June 10th 2010 6:08PM
It isn't throwing in the towel just yet, but things don't seem to be looking good for Netherlands-based iRex Technologies -- CEO Hans Brons has just announced that the company has been forced to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection amid a string of problems that's led to "financial difficulties." While details are otherwise still pretty light, at least some of those problems seem to be related to the company's operations in the United States and, in particular, a delay in its DR 800 e-reader receiving FCC approval that caused iRex to miss out the holiday shopping season and fully take advantage of its deal with Best Buy. As bleak as things might be, however, Brons still seems to be keeping his chin up, saying that the "expectations are still positive."
Perhaps the main reason is that their e-readers cost a small fortune...
@Rick James
in the bottom left where it says "SOURCE", I thought "fd.nl" said "fail"
It's my dyslexia, I'm working on it...
@Plazmic Flame
lol
@Rick James ... or the fact that they actually never shipped a finished product. Look at the forums, they kept people waiting for features that were promised at product launch (decent battery life, sleep mode, annotations etc.)
@weg
I thought that they had a reader that shipped...
@Rick James
The most fit of them will survive, the other must adapt or file bankruptcy
LOL, a "luxury" product company tanked. LOL.
@Rick James Sure, they've shipped a reader, but many of their products had lots of problems. Unfinished software (e.g., missing PDF annotation in the DR800), a battery life of less than 10 hours (iLiad), etc. Just have a look at the forums at mobilread.com, many discussions there are about when iRex will finally release a new firmware update...
Crazy they released a 8" wacom touch e-ink reader with WiFi all the way back in 2006! If only there was an Android like open source OS platform available for e-readers back then, that would have helped make these devices more useful and reach larger audiences faster.
@Charbax
I have their Iliad. It was unreasonably expensive, but at the time there wasn't much else with an eInk screen and Penabled input. It works well, but "wifi" is limited to using the net to contact their web server for software updates. There hasn't been a software update for it in ages. In spite of the ability of the reader software to display local html files, it does not utilize the wifi/internet connectivity for browsing.
I bought an entourage edge. Android-based, dual screen. It works very well. Supports web browsing and multimedia. Entourage has a responsive staff working actively on updates and improvements. If iRex had built the edge it would have probably cost $2000.
@kenjennings Incorrect. The Iliad's Wifi works fine for web browsing via a Wifi router.
The problems with Irex began when they dropped support for their first device so they could move on to their next device, which then had problems, but then there was nothing to fall back on.
There's a lesson there.
And here I thought submitting this news would give me a thanks...
Oh well.
@TheAmazingWJV I submitted it too. They really should give shoutouts if they use your tips.
Sounds like Hans needs to bust out some Rex Kwon Do.
They're just up against too many extremely deep pocketed competitors as well as lower cost small competitors...so they're being squeezed on the high end and the low end side.
They ran themselves into the ground! Insanely high prices and terrible customer service. They had it coming!
I almost got totally screwed by these guys a few years ago. Thankfully I purchased the ereader with an AMEX card and AMEX gave them the proverbial middle finger.
Die iRex...Die!
Looks like selling half assed products finally caught up to them. Let this be a warning to all the other small companies out there, if you promise a bunch of features and never deliver you're company will end up folding. I foresee a similar fate for Notion Ink with all of their promises of the sky yet nothing given but delays.
thank god I didn't buy one
Chapter 11?
Why does a NL company file for bankruptcy under US law?
The biggest problem is the company name. iRex sounds like a bad Apple clone company. You sell e-readers!
Name your company eRex! It wasn't long or hard to come up with that And it's a name any guy would be excited to pull for!
@monkeycrackers This is an interesting statement. I never thought of iRex like that. Has someone else?