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Digital Way and Next Way contracts

19 January 2004
The Electronic Times (Korea)
2004 Electronic Times Internet Co., Ltd. All right reserved

Two leading MP3 player makers, Digital Way and Next Way, have clinched contracts with major distributors and IT firms in the United States to supply MP3 players in large volume this year.

Digital Way ( http://www.digitalway.co.kr) said on January 18 it sealed a contract with Best Buy to supply its MP3 players, including HDD-installed and flash memory-based gadgets, in value of 35 million dollars, starting in February this year.

The MP3 player maker also said that it was in talks with other large distributors such as CompUSA, Amazon, Goodguys, and Futureshop to supply its products worth a total of 15 million dollars. These export deals were made at 2004 Winter CES held in Las Vegas early this month.

"It is quite encouraging to export MP3 players with our own brand instead of supplying on original equipment manufacturing (OEM) basis," said Wu Jung-ku, CEO of Digital Way, hinting his strong desire for augmenting its presence in the U.S. market.

Next Way ( http://www.nextway.co.kr) signed contracts with four large distributors in the United States including TDK and Lexar to supply 1.5 million units of MP3 players a year. In addition, the company will also provide NEC Europe with new MP3 player models including a 1-inch HDD-installed gear.

"Based on the beachhead in the United States, we will expand our client base to leading IT and distribution firms such as Fuji Film, HP, Gateway, IBM and Best Buy," said Beom Jae-ryong, CEO of Next Way.