Marriage of Convenience
Computer giant Dell of late has introduced three new XPS high-performance systems featuring design excellence and customer-driven innovations to enable consumers to control and enjoy their digital entertainment around or outside the home.
News of the happy union comes hot on the heels of Dell’s recent infatuation with Google, and search engine Yahoo’s hook-up with Skype’s parent company, eBay.
At a news conference here, Dell unveiled its portable 20-inch widescreen entertainment PC, the XPS M2010, the redesigned XPS 700 gaming desktop, the XPS M1210 ultra-mobile notebook computer and the 2407WFP widescreen flat panel monitor. The offerings extend Dell’s commitment to provide superior value and the richest entertainment experiences available by addressing emerging customer preferences.
The Skype software will be offered as part of Dell’s audio/video communications package on the new XPS M1210 and M2010 laptops, Skype announced lately. The communications package also includes an integrated Webcam and microphone, noise isolation earbuds, and a mobile broadband antenna.
This gives Dell customers a simple way to use the Internet to talk to their friends and family from home, in the office or on the go, Don Albert, director of business development for Skype North America, said in a statement.
More consumers than ever are using their home PCs to manage digital photos, edit digital videos, watch DVDs or play games. Dell’s XPS products, when combined with Dell TVs, displays and projectors, make these experiences richer and more enjoyable.
The PC continues to be the engine that drives the personal entertainment experience as more consumers see the value of expanding its use for gaming, photos, music and videos, said Alex Gruzen, senior vice president, Dell Product Group. "No one listens to customers better than Dell and today these XPS products exemplify product leadership for the digital lifestyle."
The world’s number one computer manufacturer also recently finalized a deal of undisclosed value with the world number one search engine, Google. The agreement means millions of Dell PCs will be pre-loaded with a Google task bar for web and PC searches, along with a co-branded homepage. The applications are accessible through a side pane on Internet Explorer 6.
Skype, which offers software that allows people to talk over an Internet connection using their PCs, has been making a bigger push recently to get more people to use its service. At the end of April, the company, which is owned by Internet auctioneer eBay, claimed to have more than 100 million registered users, nearly double the number of registered consumers it had in September 2005.
But as the company faces more competition from companies such as Yahoo and AOL, which are integrating more call features into their instant-messaging clients, it is aggressively trying to increase the number of people using its services.
Earlier this month, Skype began offering a promotion to allow people to make free SkypeOut calls to traditional landline and mobile phones in the U.S. and Canada until the end of the year. Traditionally, Skype has charged for this service.
The company hopes the deal with Dell will make it even easier for laptop users to choose Skype’s services over those offered by its competitors.
The Google-Dell deal last week came on the same day that eBay and Yahoo! announced a three-year marketing relationship that effectively pits their resources against rivals Google and Microsoft. Under the terms of that agreement, Yahoo will provide graphical and search-related ads to eBay sites. In turn, eBay’s PayPal secure payment service will become the default online payment service on Yahoo.
At the Dell-Google announcement, Google boss Eric Schmidt claimed eBay was not a rival but rather a partner whom he hopes will grow closer to Google in the coming years. He admitted eBay is likely to blossom based on its new partnership with Yahoo!
It is believed Yahoo! and Microsoft had been vying for search-bar representation on Dell PCs before Google eloped with the hardware company. Schmidt hinted Dell had been flirting with Google’s software for six months prior to the union.
"Dell represents a new distribution channel for Skype," Albert said in a statement. "New products from Dell will complement the breadth of hardware designed for the convenience of Skype callers."
Fast Facts
Dell’s XPS line is intended to exceed the requirements of demanding consumers. The newest XPS models are designed for gamers, enthusiasts and customers preferring the best products and personalized service. By combining unique designs, industry-leading product features and superb service and support, the award-winning line of XPS systems continues to set the standard for home entertainment and gaming systems. More information about Dell’s XPS products can be found at www.dell.com/xps.
The Dell XPS 700 desktop represents Dell’s latest in gaming design and performance. The new system supports NVIDIA Quad-SLI graphics, AGEIA PhysX physics accelerators and the latest Intel dual-core processors for an intensely realistic experience. The aluminum chassis, inspired by jet engine and muscle car designs, includes features such as customizable lighting to make it easy for gamers to connect devices or play in the dark. For the first time, do-it-yourself customers can purchase a kit including only the XPS 700 chassis, motherboard, memory and processor. They can install their own components and software for a truly personalized gaming experience.
The Dell XPS M1210 is the ultimate notebook for consumers desiring mobility and uncompromised performance. Starting at 4.37 pounds, it is light enough to go virtually anywhere, and its durable magnesium alloy frame makes it RoadReady. Users can play games or enjoy multimedia content with powerful dual-core processors and optional discrete graphics in a 12.1-inch widescreen body. Customers can configure the XPS M1210 with a communications-friendly audio-visual package that includes an integrated webcam, Skype Internet communication software and video chat software, noise-isolation ear buds and optional embedded mobile broadband.
First introduced by Michael Dell as a mobile concept at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show, the XPS M2010 is a new breed of technology for portable entertainment or productivity. Sporting a unique design, the system’s multimedia features include a 20.1-inch, high-definition widescreen monitor, eight speakers plus a subwoofer, a detachable, full-sized Bluetooth wireless keyboard and gyroscope-enabled remote, a webcam and a slot-load DVD drive. The articulating hinges supporting the display, double as a system handle when the system is closed, making the XPS M2010 easy to carry and truly portable.
Building on the company’s award-winning line of display products, the 2407WFP widescreen flat panel monitor is optimized for multimedia performance and enhanced usability such as gaming and video editing. The 24-inch monitor features some of the latest technologies and advanced features, including 6-millisecond response time(2), 1,000:1 contrast ratio, integrated 9-in-2 media card slots, four USB 2.0 ports and connectors for s-video, composite, component and DVI (digital video interface) with HDCP (high-bandwidth digital copy protection). The 2407WFP delivers ease-of-use features such as slim flat panel design as well as Dell-designed enhancements for height adjustability, tilt and swivel and easy display detachment for wall mounting.
Pricing and Availability
- The XPS M2010 starts at $3,500, and is available worldwide.
- The XPS 700 starts at $2,310, and is available worldwide. It is available in special-edition formula red in the Americas, starting at $2,410. A kit for build-your-own enthusiasts starts at $1,120, including the chassis, an Intel(R) 930 processor, 512 MB memory, motherboard and power supply.
- The XPS M1210 is available worldwide with prices starting at $1,300.
- The 2407WFP display has a starting price of $949 and is available worldwide.
For additional product details and photography, please go to www.dell.com/newxps.
As the leading notebook supplier, Dell is committed to delivering cutting-edge technology that provides voice and video connectivity virtually anywhere, Dell worldwide notebook marketing director Brett Faulk said. "Teaming with Skype, the trend setter in internet communications will provide our customers with the very best experience when reaching out and staying in touch with friends and family around the world."
Commentators have generally been supportive of the fledgling Dell-Google relationship, but there was one objection in the chapel.
With this latest hook-up between Dell and Skype the current plans are to package Skype software with the computers rather than have it pre-installed on the machines. Some analysts suggest that the decision to make the Skype package optional, unlike the pre-loaded Google set-up, could be to allay fears that Skype is a potential security vulnerability to corporate networks.