At Showstoppers this week, I had the opportunity to catch up with Zagg, makers of the Invisible Shield and a number of other neat accessories that the company as showing at the event.. One question I had was how a company that focused on inexpensive mobile accessories such as screen protectors got interested in making a high-end home AV multimedia tour de force such as the mighty Zaggbox.
Zagg’s nonobvious answer is that, in selling so many iPhone accessories, the company amassed a database of digital media enthusiasts who cried out for a solution like the Zaggbox, which is expected to sell for somewhere between $800 to $1,000. In any case, before going out on such a limb, the company plans to float the product and get feedback on it at the EHX trade show, where it may come face-to-face with its first customers, custom installers.
It’s a disaster in the making. Maybe already made. At CES they told me they’d announce pricing and offer pre-sales that next week. Didn’t happen. In fact, seems that wasn’t the first delay. And it’s a bit sketchy they won’t talk about their ‘hidden partner’ that built the product. The rep I spoke to made it sound that they are merely the marketing and branding engine here. The feature set was somewhat odd and the price kind of outrageous.
http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2010-01/a-quick-look-at-the-zaggbox/
Certainly agree that, at that price, it’s a custom install opportunity so they are doing the right thing floating it at EHX.