Logitech celebrates birthday with new products

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Mar 8, 20063 mins

Company offers its first mouse designed specifically for left-handed users

Logitech introduced a host of new consumer products at Cebit Wednesday, including new offerings for digital music listeners and the company’s first mouse designed specifically for left-handed users.

Other new products the company launched included three Web cameras priced for the low-end of the consumer market, the company’s first noise-cancelling headphones and new remote controls in its Harmony family of products. Logitech also introduced a new version of its digital pen technology designed to let users easily turn notes into Microsoft Word documents.

The company, which is celebrating its 25th birthday, made the announcements at a press conference a day before the official opening of the Cebit trade show in Hanover, Germany.

Wednesday’s conference also marked the debut public appearance for Logitech’s new senior vice president for worldwide sales and marketing, Jerry Quindlen. He joined the company six months ago after 15 years at Eastman Kodak, and introduced Logitech’s new products on Wednesday.

New digital music products introduced Wednesday are a version of its Logitech mm50 Portable Speakers for iPods — in black to attract users of the new black iPods — and the Logitech Noise Cancelling Headphones.

The headphones feature Logitech SilentSound noise-cancelling technology and can remove up to 22 decibels and 92 percent of background noise, the company said. They will cost €149.99 ($179.25) and will be available both in Europe and in the U.S. beginning in April.

Though Logitech is focused on providing products to capitalize on current trends like the “digital music explosion,” Quindlen said it will continue to focus on delivering innovation in core products that are the foundation of the company’s success, such as keyboards and mice.

To that end, the company launched its first-ever mouse for left-handed people, he said. The Logitech MX610 Left-Hand Laser Cordless Mouse will be available in early April for a suggested retail price of €59.99.

Logitech also launched a special edition of its mouse aimed at computer gamers, the Logitech G7 Laser Cordless Mouse, in Europe, as well as two other new mice, one for desktop users and one for laptop users.

The company’s new corded Logitech MX400 Precision Laser Mouse for PC users will be available in Europe and in the U.S. beginning in April, with a suggested price of €39.99. The LogitechV150 Laser Mouse for Notebooks will be available in Europe and the U.S. beginning in June, and will cost €29.99.

Other products launched by Logitech Wednesday are:

— The QuickCam Connect, QuickCam Messenger, QuickCam Chat and QuickCam Express Web cameras, which feature a minimalist version of Logitech’s “eyeball” design and cost between €19.99 to €39.99;

— The Logitech io2 Digital Pen, available in Europe and in the U.S. beginning in May for €149.99.

— The Harmony 785 and 555 universal remotes, which will be available in Europe beginning in the spring for €249.99 and €129.99, respectively.