All customers were easily convinced of the capabilities of the newly formed company and are already representing the new distribution company, which is more or less a continuation of the former Amstrad GmbH, also focussing on satellite reception equipment for the consumer market. The product line will consist of receiver, dishes, LNBs and also complete installations including all add-ons. During the IFA 97, Amstrad introduced a complete product line, of which two receivers were tested by us. In the beginning of 98 the first digital receivers will also be introduced by Amstrad together with a new focus on telecommunication equipment. Here the experiences from the past come in handy, because Amstrad used to sell fax machines as well.
Digital television is still rather new and most of the time being perceived as pay-TV only.
The belief of users in analogue technology strengthens the manufacturers in their policy to continue developing for the analogue market. Where the expectation was that analogue would vanish in a short period, the past year has taught us that the sales of analogue receivers has even grown. Combined analogue and digital receivers are available, but owing to the complex technology involved, they cannot be sold at competitive prices yet. Amstrad still believes in the analogue technique and has, therefore, introduced a new product range. Where Twin for an LNB means two LNBs in one housing, this also goes for the Amstrad Twin receiver.