You think the competitive world of radio is harsh?
Try the consumer electronics arena, where a product is considered a dinosaur after about a year and a half.
The first tabletop HD Radio, the Recepter Radio HD from Boston Acoustics, is now considered to be at the end of its product life by its maker and will be retired.
Boston Acoustics SVP for Sales and Marketing Phil Cohn tells me, “We will not be shipping new product into the market, but there is product already seeded in the market.”
The Sharper Image and RadioShack, as well as other select retailers, still have the Recepter Radio HD, he said.
Boston Acoustics is reviewing “a number of applications” for its radio line and has not announced a plan. It could decide to make a replacement and updated HD-R unit, or not, which would be a troubling indicator for IBOC. But I’m not worried about this yet as it’s natural for receiver makers to tweak their product lines and hold out on their plans so as not to tip off competitors.
The receiver maker is likely to make its decision before CES.
