Logitech set to enter consumer electronics space

Logitech Electronics India, a subsidiary of the $2.2 billion Swiss-based Logitech, is set to enter the consumer electronics segment in the country with a new product range by the end of this month. The company will launch three new products, wireless DJ, a streaming music solution that can stream music from a PC to a music system (Squeexbox music system) and a universal remote.

The company has been catering to the PC peripheral markets till date with products such as keyboards, mouse, webcams and audio speakers.

"We are now concentrating on the consumer electronics segment in India. It is a fast-growing segment and a major focus area for us," said Moninder Jain, director, India and South East Asia, Logitech.

Earlier this year, the company had launched iPod, MP3 speakers and headsets.

Logitech recently acquired a Canadian company, Slim Devices, which is a manufacturer of universal remotes and Squeexbox music system. It is planning to import all the products from this subsidiary. The price points being looked at by the company range from Rs 5,500 to Rs 28,000 for universal remote and Rs 4,000 to Rs 25,000 for iPod and MP3 speakers. The Squeexbox music system will cost around Rs 15,995 to Rs 19,995.

According to Jain, there is an increasing demand for non-IT peripherals in the home and personal entertainment space. "This new segment is like a parallel track for our company. It is a new but growing segment. We are well-established in the IT segment." said Jain. Logitech is looking at leveraging its distribution network with modern retail format stores and consumer electronic stores to sell its products. "We have relationships with almost all the modern retail format stores and consumer electronic stores. Hence, we will be stocking our products there," said Jain. The company works with four distributors, Ingram, Rashi Peripherals, Neoteric and Savex.