September 23, 1996
Philips Consumer Electronics Co. has announced that it is now shipping its new co-branded Philips Magnavox Internet TV terminal.
Philips' and Magnavox's new terminal carries a suggested retail price of $329.95, officials said. Retailers carrying the new unit include Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, Good Guy's, Incredible Universe, Montgomery Ward, Sears, and Service Merchandise.
A senior PCEC official said the Internet TV terminal came to market so quickly because of "retailers' overwhelming positive and exciting response" to the product. Philips' and Magnavox's Net terminal went from the formal announcement stage to nationwide availability in just over two and a half months, he said.
Internet service will be provided by WebTV Networks, whose own online service premiered on September 18. WebTV Networks will charge $19.95 a month for unlimited connect time, e-mail, World Wide Web browsing, home shopping, online banking, and parental screening options.
When the Net terminal box was first announced, both Philips and WebTV Networks said they faced a number of challenges in bringing the Web to television -- the main problem being screen resolution (Newsbytes, Aug. 8, 1996). Officials said although Internet content was not designed to easily display on television at full resolution, "We have clearly demonstrated that resolution and flicker problems are (now) resolved, and we now have a technology which brings a bright and clear Internet to TV."
The Philips Magnavox terminal comes equipped with a modem; a WebTV expansion connector; an ISO Smart Card slot supporting ISO-compliant Visa and Mastercard smart cards, cash cards, and bank automatic teller machine (ATM) smart cards; a universal remote control with "One Thumb Browsing;" an infrared remote keyboard; and built-in Web browsing software.