e.Digital Corporation (fka EDIG)

[Tinroad]

A contrast to the SJM article:

Dell: No Plans To Give Singapore's Creative New Contract
Thursday August 14, 12:48 am ET


SINGAPORE -(Dow Jones)- Dell Inc. (NasdaqNM:DELL - News) Friday dispelled market speculation it was about to award a new contract to Creative Technology Ltd. to supply computer-related products.

"There is no specific plan apart from the current partnership that we already have," Dell spokeswoman Judy Low told Dow Jones Newswires. Analysts say Dell already sources soundcards from Creative for some of its desktop computer products.

"If there is something concrete," Dell will announce it, Low added.

There had been speculation Creative would win additional contracts to supply more products, such as speakers, to the U.S. company, lifting Creative's stock 9.3% higher Thursday. The stock was down 0.6%, or 10 cents, at S$16.40 Friday ( US$1=S$1.7480).

Sound cards, which enhance the audio quality in computers, and speakers, comprised about half of Creative's fourth quarter revenue of US$149.6 million.

versus

"Dell will most likely use now-launched MusicMatch Jukebox as the Dell re-branded frontend to its own music store and its first digital music player seems to be re-branded version of Creative's portable MP3 player."

versus

"This is their way of putting a stake in the ground in the mass consumer market,” said Tim Bajarin, president of research firm Creative Strategies." ( http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_29-9-2003_pg6_3 )

http://www.creativestrategies.com/whoweare.htm

As best I can tell, the folks at Apple are the only ones claiming that Dell is rebranding a Creative JB... "It appears that Dell is re-branding one of the second-tier music services that will be announced soon, just like they are re-branding Creative's MP3 player. There is little original here," Apple's statement said." ( http://www.macobserver.com/columns/thebackpage/2003/20030929.shtml )

Time will tell.