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RadioShack Announced as Exclusive Retail Destination for Knight Rider GPS by Mio, Featuring Distinctive Voice of K.I.T.T.

By: RadioShack |  0 Shares     127 Reads

GPS device offers look, sound of K.I.T.T. from classic crime-fighting television series

FORT WORTH, Texas and FREMONT, Calif., Sept. 26 // PRNewswire-FirstCall // -- RadioShack Corporation (NYSE: RSH) and Mio Technology today announced the retail launch of the Knight Rider GPS by Mio at RadioShack. Exclusively, until October 31, 2008, customers may purchase the Knight Rider GPS online through http://www.RadioShack.com or at more than 2,500 select RadioShack stores nationwide.

To create an authentic Knight Rider experience, Mio partnered with Universal Studios Digital Platforms Group to become a Knight Rider licensee and Navtones(R) to include exclusive voice guidance and turn-by-turn directions featuring the original voice of K.I.T.T., (Knight Industries Two Thousand). K.I.T.T. is a talking car with artificial intelligence featured in the Knight Rider television series that is being revived this fall on NBC television.

With a sleek, jet-black design inspired by the original K.I.T.T., the Knight Rider GPS by Mio brings the magic of the original television series to your daily commute. Through collaboration with Navtones(R), a Los Angeles-based provider of celebrity voice sets for GPS devices, users will ride with the original voice of K.I.T.T providing turn-by-turn guidance. Users can also pick from a menu of more than 300 common names, which are then paired with randomized voice greetings, giving a personalized experience every time the device is turned on. Also included are red LED lights flanking both sides of the screen that flash in sync with K.I.T.T.'s voice -- much like the original K.I.T.T.'s hood-mounted illuminating lights -- providing the ultimate Knight Rider experience.

The Knight Rider GPS features a 4.3-inch color LCD touch screen with an anti-glare coating that makes it easy to operate in bright lighting conditions. In addition to the voice of K.I.T.T., directions and guidance are offered in the user's choice of English, French and Spanish in standard voice. Even the special graphic user interface simulates the overall K.I.T.T. experience, with jet-black menus and a miniature black car to indicate your location on the map display. The device comes preloaded with maps of the U.S. and Canada, including more than 4-million points of interest, along with a car mount, in-car charger, USB cable and documentation kit. Mio Technology's enhanced software ensures touch screen responsiveness and smooth transitions between menu screens. The manufacturer's suggested retail price is $269.99.

"The original K.I.T.T. inspired us to combine unstoppable navigation power with a design that looks cool on your dashboard, and as a result navigation across the country or to the local grocery store will never be more fun," said Kiyoshi Hamai, senior director of sales and product management, Mio Technology USA. "This exclusive launch with RadioShack is ideal, because their knowledgeable associates are uniquely qualified to present this one-of-a-kind device in a fun and accessible way."

To order this unique GPS device, visit http://www.radioshack.com. To locate a store participating in the exclusive launch, visit radioshack.com, type "Knight Rider" in the search bar, click on the "available at most stores" link and enter a ZIP code. The product is also available through RadioShack's Ship-to-Store ordering system offering secured delivery to any participating RadioShack retail location.

About Knight Rider

Returning to NBC beginning Wednesday, September 24 (8-9 p.m. ET), the action series showcases the new KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand). KITT is equipped with "AI" (artificial intelligence) that is capable of hacking almost any system. Its weapons systems matches that of a jet fighter, and its body is capable of actually transforming into other vehicles and uses sophisticated holographic imagery to elude villains.

"Knight Rider" stars Justin Bruening ("Cold Case"), Deanna Russo ("NCIS"), Sydney Tamiia Poitier ("Veronica Mars"), Paul Campbell ("Battlestar Galactica"), Yancey Arias ("Kingpin") and Bruce Davison ("Breach"). Smith Cho ("Blades of Glory") recurs.

Based on characters created by Glen Larson, "Knight Rider" is from Universal Media Studios and Dutch Oven Productions. David Bartis, Doug Liman, Matt Pyken and Gary Scott Thompson serve as executive producers.

About RadioShack Corporation

RadioShack Corporation (NYSE: RSH) is one of the nation's most experienced and trusted consumer electronics specialty retailers. Operating from convenient and comfortable neighborhood and mall locations, RadioShack stores deliver personalized product and service solutions within a few short minutes of where most Americans either live or work. The company has a presence through almost 6,000 company-operated stores and dealer outlets in the United States and nearly 700 wireless phone kiosks. RadioShack's dedicated force of knowledgeable and helpful sales associates has been consistently recognized by several independent groups as providing the best customer service in the consumer electronics and wireless industries. For more information on RadioShack Corporation, or to purchase items online, visit http://www.RadioShack.com.

About Mio Technology

Mio Technology develops and markets products that enable users to take advantage of the latest developments in mobile services. The company was established in May 2002 and now has operations in Taiwan, mainland China, Europe, North America, Australia, Japan and South Korea. Mio Technology has more than 1,200 employees worldwide and sells and markets its products in over 47 countries and territories. The company offers a wide array of mobile navigation products, which today includes car navigation systems, handheld navigation systems, GPS PDA phones and GPS PDAs, all designed to enable people to explore and discover the world around them. Mio Technology is among the world's top three vendors of mobile devices with integrated GPS. The company is online at http://www.mio.com.

About Navtones

Los Angeles-based Navtones(R) is a global provider of celebrity, specialty, and branded voice content for GPS navigation systems. Thousands of drivers in more than 30 countries know what it means to "Nav It Your Way" from installing Navtones(R) on their portable navigation devices. Founded in 2004 with a mission to add entertainment to the daily commute, Navtones(R) content is available to both consumers and navigation enterprises via download and embedded license, respectively. To sample our exclusive catalog or for more information, please check us out at http://www.navtones.com.

About Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group

Universal Pictures Digital Platforms (UPDPG) is responsible for global digital product development, production, licensing, distribution, and growth strategy for the extensive catalogue of Universal's properties across new and emerging digital platforms, including mobile, video game consoles, personal computers, and other portable devices. With a worldwide mandate to help shape the digital future of Universal Pictures, the Group has offices in Universal City, California; London, England; and Tokyo, Japan.

Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group is a unit of Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures. Universal Pictures is a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80-percent owned by General Electric and 20-percent owned by Vivendi.



SOURCE RadioShack Corporation

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