Humax debuts unique portable satellite TV

The world's second largest set-top-box manufacturer, Humax, is debuting its new range of television receivers designed for the Middle East market at GITEX Technology Week, including some more unusual models.

The centrepiece of Humax's GITEX booth however, is the SATBox, a 17-inch portable LCD TV and satellite receiver that folds into a briefcase style carrying container.

"With the SATBox, users can enjoy satellite television anywhere with easy installation. They can watch Arabsat or Showtime, allowing them to enjoy watching the English Premier League for example in the desert or at the beach or even at sea," says Kyungwoo Shin, managing director of Humax Gulf.

In addition to selling the product through third-party retail outlets, Humax is looking to negotiate deals with automotive manufacturers to have the technology incorporated into in-car entertainment systems.

Humax's television receiver range includes the Amadeus, which features large surround-sound speakers fitted into its base, and the LDE-HD40S, which is offered with a built-in HD satellite receiver. The company is also showcasing an LCD TV with a built-in hard disk drive on its stand. Despite Humax's expansion into TV receiver manufacturing, Shin says the company has no aspirations to enter into direct competition with the industry's big guns, such as Sony, Sharp and Panasonic.

"By adding a built-in HD satellite tuner or a hard drive to our TV range, we are creating our own market niche. That's our TV strategy," explains Shin.

"GITEX Technology Week is the Middle East's pre-eminent technology event and we are focusing on it to promote our present and future activity."

The HD satellite receivers at the Humax booth are tuned live into Arabsat HD throughout the expo, to give visitors a more accurate impression of their reception performance.