Disney expanding its brand to phones, DVD players and PCs
By GARY GENTILE
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Cordless phones that ring out ``It's a Small World'' and Buzz Lightyear-themed walkie-talkies are the first two in a new line of Disney electronic products that will eventually include DVD players, digital cameras and even personal computers.
The Walt Disney Co. is introducing the phones and radios in conjunction with Motorola Inc., which will manufacture and distribute them. The products will carry both brand names.
Future products will be developed with different partners, Disney said.
Disney's Consumer Products division already licenses the company's characters for clothes, toasters, dolls and other items. The Motorola partnership marks its first entry into consumer electronics and is aimed at extending both brands to children between 6 and 12 years old.
The first products include a pair of two-way radios with 14 channels and a two-mile range. The radios come in a pink ``princess'' theme, a red and black model featuring the voices of classic Disney characters and a green and white Disney Pixar model inspired by the ``Toy Story'' animated films.
The radios will sell for $59.99 per pair in retail stores.
The cordless phones come in two models and have usual features such as caller identification and redial. They will sell for $59.99 each.
The devices will not be offered in Disney's own chain of retail stores. Instead, the company will sell them through a consumer electronics chain and a general retail outlet. Disney declined to name the stores Tuesday.
Disney said it plans to expand its electronics offerings next spring with a DVD player, portable CD player, clock radio and other items. Next fall, the company said it will license Disney-themed computers, digital cameras and printers.
07/23/02 18:53 EDT
By GARY GENTILE
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Cordless phones that ring out ``It's a Small World'' and Buzz Lightyear-themed walkie-talkies are the first two in a new line of Disney electronic products that will eventually include DVD players, digital cameras and even personal computers.
The Walt Disney Co. is introducing the phones and radios in conjunction with Motorola Inc., which will manufacture and distribute them. The products will carry both brand names.
Future products will be developed with different partners, Disney said.
Disney's Consumer Products division already licenses the company's characters for clothes, toasters, dolls and other items. The Motorola partnership marks its first entry into consumer electronics and is aimed at extending both brands to children between 6 and 12 years old.
The first products include a pair of two-way radios with 14 channels and a two-mile range. The radios come in a pink ``princess'' theme, a red and black model featuring the voices of classic Disney characters and a green and white Disney Pixar model inspired by the ``Toy Story'' animated films.
The radios will sell for $59.99 per pair in retail stores.
The cordless phones come in two models and have usual features such as caller identification and redial. They will sell for $59.99 each.
The devices will not be offered in Disney's own chain of retail stores. Instead, the company will sell them through a consumer electronics chain and a general retail outlet. Disney declined to name the stores Tuesday.
Disney said it plans to expand its electronics offerings next spring with a DVD player, portable CD player, clock radio and other items. Next fall, the company said it will license Disney-themed computers, digital cameras and printers.
07/23/02 18:53 EDT