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LOGITECH
A Mighty Mouse Milestone: Logitech Ships its 500 Millionth September 2003 (Newstream) -- Logitech (NASDAQ: LOGI) (Switzerland: LOGN), the world's leading computer mouse manufacturer, announced today that it has shipped its 500 millionth mouse. Logitech, which shipped its first mouse in 1982, has helped the mouse become one of the most recognizable and ubiquitous technology devices today, with continued innovation and compelling designs that have made it easier to use, more powerful and more personal. IDC estimates that of the world's 900 million desktop personal computers that have shipped since 1982, a Logitech mouse was shipped with 55 percent of them. "In celebrating the half-billion milestone - a number that's difficult to fathom - we're amazed by the impact of the mouse on our lives," said Guerrino De Luca, Logitech's president and chief executive officer. "We're also aware that, however small the device itself, it represents years of engineering vision and innovation, plus the hard work of the people on our manufacturing lines who turn out a huge quantity of product each day. The milestone also speaks to the strong partnerships that we enjoy with our suppliers and customers worldwide." The many mouse innovations Logitech has introduced to its customers include award-winning industrial design, high-resolution optical tracking, Fast RF™ cordless technology and software that optimizes mouse performance and enhances the user experience. On average, Logitech currently manufactures 270,000 mice daily and 6 million in a month. Placed end to end, 500 million mice would span 38,500 miles, enough to circle the earth more than 1 1/2 times. Looking at it another way, 500 million mice equates to approximately 6 million cubic feet of volume, enough to fill more than 48 Olympic-size swimming pools. Logitech first sold its mice as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to computer system manufacturers, introducing its first retail mouse in 1985. Combining its OEM strength and retail success, Logitech reached the 100 million mice mark in 1996. It then took only seven years to reach 500 million, in part because of the exploding market for input devices and the final, decisive victory of the graphical user interface across all systems and applications. "The mouse market grew up alongside computers as they became a part of our daily lives," said Roger Kay, vice president of client computing at IDC. "Today, most large businesses and about 15 percent of households worldwide have at least one PC. These days, it's not unusual for consumers to upgrade their peripherals to get more life out of their existing PCs." Building on the foundation of its mouse business, Logitech has dramatically diversified its product lines during the past decade. The company currently sells mice, keyboards, webcams, multimedia speakers, headsets for mobile phones and PCs, gaming peripherals for consoles and PCs, and digital pens. It its fiscal year 2003, which ended on March 31, Logitech surpassed $1.1 billion in annual revenue, sold more than 43 million Logitech-branded products and launched 91 new products. "As the ways in which people interface with the digital world have proliferated, our technology has diversified beyond our roots as a mouse manufacturer," said David Henry, Logitech's senior vice president of control devices. "We've made a business of perfecting your touch points to the digital world, whether you're at your desk, in the living room, or on the go. But with all the technological innovation in personal computers, the mouse remains central to the computing experience, and in many ways has become the symbol of personal computing." The mouse may also be one of the most pervasive devices in our lives. A recent survey of 1,000 Internet users, fielded for Logitech by Greenfield Online, found that 63 percent of respondents spent more time holding their mouse than any other commonly held objects, including cell phones, remote controls, steering wheels, PDAs - or their lovers. The same survey found that 26 percent of respondents felt the mouse was the most important device in the computing experience, second only to the monitor (named by 51 percent of respondents). About Logitech: Founded in 1981, Logitech designs, manufactures and markets personal interface products that enable people to effectively work, play, and communicate in the digital world. With operational headquarters through its U.S. subsidiary in Fremont, California, and regional headquarters through local subsidiaries in Switzerland, Taiwan and Hong Kong, Logitech International is a Swiss public company traded in Switzerland on the Swiss Stock Exchange (LOGN) and in the U.S. on the Nasdaq National Market System (LOGI). The company has manufacturing facilities in Asia and offices in major cities in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. |
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