VUDU teams up with home automotion / control partners
Nary a fortnight after the VUDU XL started shipping and the company's v1.3 software was outed, VUDU has decided to push its product -- namely the extra capacious model -- into homes via a number of home automation and residential control leaders. More specifically, VUDU has inked agreements with Control4, Crestron, Logitech, NetStreams, Philips, Universal Electronics and Universal Remote Control, and according to VUDU, the whole lot is looking to "integrated their key products with its HD-capable product line." As of now, channel IR codes for the VUDU and VUDU XL are available in programming tools and databases for Logitech Harmony, Advanced Universal Remotes, Prestigo and Pronto lines of controllers, but future plans for the partnerships weren't exactly spelled out in detail. Click on for the full release.
VUDU Partners with Residential Control and Automation Industry Leaders
Control 4, Crestron, Logitech®, NetStreams, Philips, Universal Electronics, and Universal Remote Integration with VUDU XL Offers Installers Added Flexibility
Electronic House Expo, Orlando, FL – March 13, 2008 – VUDU, Inc. announced today that top control and automation firms including Control4, Crestron, Logitech, NetStreams, Philips, Universal Electronics Inc., and Universal Remote Control, Inc. are integrating their key products with VUDU's HD-capable product line. This comes as the company begins shipping VUDU XL, its new high-end movie and video entertainment box, exclusively to authorized residential dealers (MSRP $999). With this integration, residential dealers and installers now have the tools to build compelling future proof movie experiences into all their clients' homes.
"With a large and constantly-updated library of compelling content and significant storage, the VUDU XL is ideally positioned as a home theater complement," said Kurt Scherf, vice president and principal analyst with Parks Associates. "VUDU's recently-announced partners provide it with a solid entry point into the custom installation business, where media servers and enhanced audio-video components are a great complement to the higher-end entertainment systems currently being installed."
"VUDU has received rave reviews from consumers and reviewers alike – the appeal of instant playback of top movies and TV episodes is contagious and universal," said Patrick Cosson, vice president of marketing, VUDU, Inc. "Now with these important partners on board, VUDU XL is positioned to give residential installers the edge in bringing the latest video technology to all their customers."
VUDU XL offers more than 5,000 standard definition movies, 1,000 TV episodes and over 100 high definition movies from all the major Hollywood studios and 22 independent distributors. Available to rent and/or purchase, movies start immediately, satisfying the consumer's desire for instant gratification. VUDU is an Internet connected box so new movies are added automatically to keep the selection fresh. VUDU XL contains one terabyte of storage, the equivalent of 500 standard definition movies. There's always something to watch on VUDU.
Partners are enabling a wide range of add-on capabilities – from integration with leading remote control units to multi-room viewing.
For home controllers, channel IR codes for VUDU XL and the original VUDU box are available in programming tools and databases for Logitech® Harmony® Advanced Universal Remotes, Prestigo and Pronto lines from Philips, Nevo Controllers from Universal Electronics Inc., and Universal Remote Control's Custom Professional products.
Home automation vendors with support for VUDU XL include NetStreams' DigiLinX system, Control4 's Operating System for the Digital Home, and Crestron.
About VUDU
VUDU is dedicated to bringing instant access to video entertainment including thousands of mainstream movies, HD films and TV shows to every living room. Through relationships with every major US movie studio and more than 22 independent studios and distributors, VUDU offers the ultimate home entertainment experience for consumers - flexibility and choice. Consumers can finally watch what they want, when they want-no planning needed, no computer necessary, no software downloads, and no cable TV service or satellite subscription required.
