VNU Net: Intel sells web devices to European portal

By Linda Leung, VNU Net

Intel said an unnamed European ecommerce portal has bought a
significant number of its Dot.Station web access device, due to be
released by the end of the year.

The appliance runs the Linux operating system and is aimed at
consumers that may not have PCs or other devices with which to
access the internet. The device, which comes with keyboard,
built-in telephone and sports a high-resolution screen, can be used
for email and family-oriented applications.

Intel is in talks with a number of service providers
interested in reselling the product across the world, but said that
one European ecommerce portal company has bought a “significant”
quantity and has “very aggressive plans for rollout this
year”.

The as-yet unidentified customer intends to distribute the
appliance to its subscribers to enable them to access information
such as travel, news and horoscopes on its site.

Greg Welch, director of marketing for Intel’s home products
group, said Europe would be Dot.Station’s principal market because
the region has a lower penetration of PCs in the home, compared
with the US, and that it boasts a well-educated and affluent
customer base.

The device comes with an internal modem for dial-up access to
the internet, but Intel plans to also support cable and digital
subscriber line modems. They will initially be manufactured in one
colour, but Welch said the appliances could appear in different
palates in the future.