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Parrot MINIKIT™ Mobile Speakerphone Sets New Performance Standard in Hands-Free, Voice-Activated Phoning

PARIS--Parrot, one of the world-leading innovators in Bluetooth® technology, today introduced its new Parrot MINIKIT, a hands-free mobile speakerphone that features next-generation, best-in-class voice recognition and audio quality for crystal clear, voice-activated phoning in the car, at home or in the office. The new MINIKIT was announced at the 2006 Mondial de lAutomobile in Paris, France.

To validate its exceptional performance prior to its launch, Parrot had the MINIKIT tested against the top two competitors speakerphones by one of Europes leading audio testing firms. The MINIKIT was found to be superior in the three categories that most affect the users experience: volume, voice transmission quality and voice reception quality. (Editors Note: For further information, contact a Parrot media representative or see www.parrot.biz.)

The new Parrot MINIKIT is the only speakerphone in its category with advanced voice recognition technology that allows users to set up their phone books with voice tags for the convenience and added control of true hands-free voice dialing -- especially important when driving.

The superb audio quality of the MINIKIT is due to its built-in two-watt high-fidelity speaker and a built-in omni-directional microphone supported by the latest DSP-2 signal processing technology.

This state-of-the-art Parrot MINIKIT speakerphone ushers in a new era of performance and mobility since this solution goes wherever you go and provides the trademark hands-free capabilities for which Parrot is known, said Ed Valdez, president of Parrot, Inc. in the USA. And with the increasing usage of Voice over IP throughout the US, this solution also easily enables VoIP calls with Bluetooth-enabled laptops in the office.

Like the car kits in the companys product line, the Parrot MINIKIT is user-friendly. It has upgradeable software to ensure compatibility with future cell phones. It will pair with up to five phones, each with 150 voice tags, and recognizes multiple languages. Once paired, it will connect automatically with the users cell phone and will work with virtually all Bluetooth-enabled cell phones on the market.

Parrot MINIKIT also features last-number redial. And, for privacy, users can switch a call from the speakerphone to their cell phone by simply pressing the green call button, and back again the same way.

The battery-powered MINIKIT is totally self-contained with no external wires or accessories.

It is light-weight and ultra-compact. Weighing only 3.5 ounces and measuring only 4.3 x 2.5 x 1.2 inches -- about the size of a wallet -- it is designed to fit in a pocket or a purse, and will go everywhere the user goes. It features 10 hours of talk time, more than one week of standby time and will fully recharge in only three hours, and comes with both 12V and 120V charging units.

The Parrot MINIKIT will be available online and through U.S. retailers in the fourth quarter with an MSRP of $124.99.

Parrot offers the broadest lineup of Bluetooth-enabled products available.

Parrot Bluetooth Product Line
MOBILE ELECTRONICS PRODUCTS
Portable Units Professionally installed car kits
  • Easy-Drive plug & play
  • MINIKIT Speakerphone
  • DRIVER HEADSET with its own 12V
    charging cradle
  • CK 3000
  • CK 3100 LCD
  • CK 3200 LS-Color with color
    LCD and photo caller i.d.
  • CK 3300 with GPS antenna
  • 3400 LS-GPS with large, color
    LCD
  • RHYTHM N BLUE car stereo
    with Bluetooth hands-free
    phoning
HOME & OFFICE PRODUCTS
  • MINIKIT Speakerphone
  • Parrot SOUND SYSTEM wireless
    stereo
  • Parrot PHOTO VIEWER

About Parrot

A member of Bluetooth SIG since June 2000, Parrot (www.parrot.biz) is a leader in Bluetooth mobile phone accessories with over 1.5 million products sold. The company has developed extensive expertise in voice recognition and digital signal processing both in hardware and software. Parrots focus is to provide the natural extension of mobile phones in three key areas: hands-free communication, audio streaming, and digital photos. Founded in 1994 by Henri Seydoux, Parrot is a global company headquartered in Paris and is traded on Euronext. The company has offices in Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, US and Hong Kong/China. U.S. offices are in New York, Detroit and Austin, Texas. Parrot products are sold online and through retail stores in more than 40 countries. Parrot and the Parrot logo are trademarks of Parrot S.A. The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Parrot is under license. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners. For more information call 1-877-PARROT or visit www.parrot.biz.

All Rights reserved. The Parrot Trademarks appearing in this news release are the sole and exclusive property of Parrot S.A. All the others Trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used under license by Parrot S.A.