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After Videocon and BPL, Mirc Electronics, which makes and markets the Onida brand of televisions, is launching an Internet television called Web Cruiser.

The Web Cruiser will allow access to Internet surfing and email. It will be devoid of any attachments except for a cordless keyboard that could also be used as a remote control to switch television channels.

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"It is for the first time that such a multimedia model is being launched in the world. Web Cruiser is a compact cost-efficient gateway to cyberspace which comes with 25 hours of free Internet time," Mirc Electronics Chairman and Managing Director G L Mirchandani has been quoted as saying.

"The Web Cruiser will be priced at Rs 24,992. The price is comparable to the premium range of colour televisions available in the market," said company officials.

"A Web television was launched by Microsoft a year ago. It is a computer with an added TV card and not a totally integrated television like ours," said Mirchandani.

"Globally, personal computers are converted into televisions. But in India, we expect televisions to replace PCs for accessing the Internet. This will soon be an industry standard," believes G Sunder, executive vice-president.

Onida is also launching three more value-added models of televisions. The 'Twister' range priced at Rs 70,000 is a 29-inch television with a motorised swivel base. The motorised base will enable the TV to turn in any required direction at a flick of the remote. This range of televisions is being launched in India for the first time.

Another range, called Wallscape, is a 42-inch television similar to a picture frame. The maximum thickness is three inches and it is priced at Rs 800,000. "This television can be used for business presentations and flight information at airports," he said.

There is also a 29-inch pure flat TV, priced at Rs 70,000 that produces distortion-free and glare-free images.

Onida claims it has achieved a volume growth of 67 per cent against the industry growth of 28 per cent in 1998-99.

Total sales for the same period is estimated to be higher by 20 per cent at Rs 6.25 billion against Rs 5.22 billion for 1997-98. Net profit too is estimated to be up by 27 per cent at Rs 260 million for 1998-99 against Rs 204.2 million, last year.

Earlier:

• tv.comp
  Videocon is marrying a multimedia computer to a 25-inch colour TV.

- Compiled from the Indian media

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