Marketing Review — Fall 2008 - (Page 36)

WELCOME MAT: WildCharge mobile electronics charging pad This slender pad replaces those clumsy, heavy power rechargers while saving electricity, making it smart for office and home as well as travel. WildCharge powers up mobile devices with a safe, wirefree electric transmission technology, earning a Best of Innovations award at this year’s International Consumer Electronics Show. The 30- and 100-watt pads transmit power via contact points built into gel adapter-covers sized to various electronics (cellphones, PDAs, laptops). The adapter-covers are bundled with the pads which can simultaneously charge and power up to five devices. Eventually, hopes Izhar Matzevich, chief of the Scottsdale, Arizona-based enterprise, WildCharge technology will be built-in to various devices, liberating them and their owners from outlet-clogging wall bricks and tangled wires. He envisions a day when coffee shops and restaurants will lure electronics-toting customers by embedding laptop-size WildCharge pads in their tabletops. www.wildcharge.com OTTERBOX GEAR CASE SUN POWER TO REPLACE THOSE ADAPTERS: Solio hybrid solar chargers These universal chargers not only replace plug-in adapters; they store power too. Solio.com offers customized tips for nearly any mobile phone, MP3 player, GPS unit, PDA, digital camera or other low-voltage portable (laptops require too much power). The advanced Solio Magnesium (Mg) Edition combines small high-efficiency solar panels with a super-high capacity battery to collect and store power. An hour of sunshine can yield 20 minutes of talk time or 50 minutes of MP3 music. Fan out the six-ounce Mg to charge via its solar panels. If you can’t wait for the sun to shine, plug this handy hybrid into the wall to charge from the grid. 36 The budget-friendlier Solio Hybrid 1000 packs a powerful solar panel and battery in a slender case, conveniently sporting a tough, built-in carabiner and cable. Like the Mg, it can power nearly any low-voltage electronic device and works out of the box with most cellphones, MP3 players, and GPS units. One hour of sunshine yields 15 minutes of talk time or 40 minutes of MP3 audio. Or use the included connector to channel power from your computer’s USB port. www.solio.com EXTREME PROTECTION FOR ROAD WARRIORS: OtterBox gear cases Does your itinerary involve rough climate conditions or challenging terrain? Is your gear at risk of getting banged around? Do your electronic essentials ever wind up in the hands of clumsy colleagues? OtterBox to the rescue—with custom cases that protect your laptop, cellphone, PDA and other electronics from the elements. OtterBox cases are waterproof, crushproof and drop-proof. They also enable you to work in wet, dusty and other conditions with engineered-in access to ports and keyboards. For example, you can enter and retrieve data with your stylus without removing your PDA from its OtterBox—thanks to a recessed clear plastic screen. BlackBerry cases allow access to phone and function controls and sealed keypad access. Camera phones are protected while snapping photos at outdoor events. Laptop cases allow access to drives and ports, eliminating that juggling act when you’re seat-bound on planes. “Professionals in the hospitality industry are always on the go with their technology, but one wrong move can mean expensive repairs or replacements—and downtime,” said designer Alan Morine. Named after the resourceful, amphibious mammal, the OtterBox features an “interactive” design that lets you work nearly anywhere while your device stays protected in the case— “even,” adds Morine, “when waiting outside in the rain.” Road warriors can “ruggedize” tablet PCs, notebook computers, and just about any other equipment. The Defender series provides drop and scratch protection, while the Armor series stands up to the most extreme conditions. Belt clips, neck lanyards, hardcore handles, and customizable internal inserts complete the commando performance. Even if the worst threats to your gear are spilled lattes or icy sidewalks, you’ll garHSMAI MARKETING REVIEW • FALL 2008 http://www.wildcharge.com http://www.Solio.com http://www.solio.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Marketing Review — Fall 2008

Marketing Review – Fall 2008 Contents The Online Marketer Success Stories Forecasting Trends Ian Schrager: The Revolutionary Man Leaving No Stone Unturned: The Quest for Ancillary Revenue Gaga Gadgets for Execs on the Go: Functional New Portable Technology to Make Life and Work on the Road More Hospitable Effectively Weathering the Ups and Downs of the Economic Cycle Experiments in Podcasting Higher Transportation Costs and a Slowing Economy Shift Hotel Room Demand

Marketing Review — Fall 2008

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