The Widget UK Blog

Amy Adams identifies a common problem for travellers in the latest issue of TNT magazine.

"You don’t have room to pack lots of books for your big trip…if you want a constant supply of new reading material then look no further than electronic book reader BeBook..."

See full review: tnt_bebook_Jan09.pdf

i2istream allows you to share the music playing on your iPod, computer or any other audio source with a 3.5mm jack, by streaming the music wirelessly to another set of speakers.

Widget is the UK launch partner for Aerielle, the company behind the i2istream, and the story has been picked up on the Pocket Lint website.

"Wireless music system double act available for just under £70..." read more on PocketLink.co.uk

The i2istream is also illustrated on YouTube on a number of videos ranging from the straight up product demo on television to the Lover's Lane video illustration

However you want to use it, you can buy i2istream online here

The January 2009 ediition of PC Retail magazine recognises Bart Hoorntje, Sales Director of Widget UK Ltd, as "One to watch under 30."

Describing him as a "high energy Dutchman" the article notes his high standards of integrity insigh and vision, and his famous sense of humour.

Prior to joining Widget in 2006, Bart was part of the team which first established the GPS market in the UK.

Read the full article about Bart here

During promotional periods, such as the period from Boxing Day to mid January, when customers see January sale prices, TomTom, like many other manufacturers, uses a system of sell out allowances to reduce the cost of its products to the end consumer, without having to change the price structure in place between the manufacturer, distributor and retailer.

These sell out allowances (SOA) are paid by TomTom to the distributor, and then these are paid on by the distributor to the retailer, allowing the retailer to sell the stock it bought at pre-Christmas prices at the sale prices

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The Assist offer is also open to purchasers of the TomTom XL range.

These promotional series of SKUs from TomTom includes 12 months free breakdown cover from Mondial Assistance.  If you buy a TomTom with UK & Republic of Ireland maps you get breakdown assistance in the UK & Republic of Ireland, if you buy a European maps product you get breakdown assistance across Europe, so even customers who already belong to the AA or RAC would benefit from buying a European product if they were planning to travel in Europe within the next 12 months.

In addition to encouraging consumers to buy, TomTom want to communicate the fact that using a GPS adds security and reassurance to car journeys.  

The box illustrated above is the XL Assist UK & ROI pack, product number  1EG0.013.03.  It includes the latest version of the TomTom XL. Similar promotional packs are available for the XL Assist GB & ROI, product number and the XL Assist Europe, product number

The 2009 PC Retail Awards will take place at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington.

Once again, Widget will be a sponsor of the awards, which are open to all retailers of PCs and associated technologies.

Widget is a distributor and wholesaler of mobile computers and GPS devices and supply items in this category to many of the nominees for the PC Retail Awards. 

In 2008, Widget sponsored the Frontline Award for Best High Street Multiple, which was presented to John Lewis Partnership, recognising the quality of the electrical offering within JLP. 

We love Datawind's little PocketSurfer mobile web devices" Electric Pig

The original PocketSurfer 2 has now been replaced with

PocketSurfer 2L: the entry level product at SRP £146.80

PocketSurfer 2R: ideal for roaming with touchpad mouse SRP £195.73

Both of these are now in stock

Full details of both product and a 'cheat sheet' showing their differences is available here.

According to the Guardian it is the "iPod of camcorders."  The Daily Telegraph put the same thought in more conservative English describing it as "as important to film as the iPod is to music,"  while the Independent concentrated on the practical by saing that "for those who love to record their lives, the task just got a whole lot easier."

Away from the heavyweights, Stuff magazine described it as "Flippin' great" and the Sun pounded away at the same pun, saying that "it's a Flip-pin great piece of kit."

They were all describing the Flip Video Mino, an ultra thin, pocket sized camcorder with a flat back panel and touch sensitive buttons. It can shoot up to 60 minutes (or 2GB) of video and recharges through its built-in USB arm. 

The Flip Video range is now available to Widget's trade customers at wholesale prices. Please call your regular account manager for further details.

The first stock of the PocketSurfer 2R has now arrived in the our warehouse allowing users to experience even better FREE internet surfing on the move, and highly attractive roaming rates to all major European and US destinations.

The PocketSurfer 2R is dedicated to web and e-mail surfing. Inside each unit is a SIM card, on the Vodafone network, which it uses to surf the internet, anywhere you can get a Vodafone signal. It has been improved with the addition of a new touch-pad mouse for easier navigation.

The PocketSurfer 2R’s price of £199 includes 20 hours per month of FREE web surfing in the UK for the first year of ownership, with a renewal charge of £39.99 for the second and subsequent years.

Roaming in Europe and the USA costs only £29.99 for 600 minutes of access, a highly competitive 5p per minute.

The PS2R weights 174g and is sized at 152 x 75 x 15mm.

A second version, the PocketSurfer 2L, retails for £149.99. It does not include the new touch-pad mouse, and is not designed for roaming outside the UK.

The PocketSurfer 2R and 2L is manufactured by Canadian manufacturer Datawind plc. Both the PocketSurfer models are available for sale through the Widget website, www.widget.com and through selected channel partners across the UK.

For the full list of countries the PS2R can roam to see PS2R Roaming Info.pdf

The TomTom Assist is a promotional series of SKUs from TomTom, which includes 12 months free breakdown cover from Mondial Assistance.  If you buy a TomTom with UK & Republic of Ireland maps you get breakdown assistance in the UK & Republic of Ireland, if you buy a European maps product you get breakdown assistance across Europe, so even customers who already belong to the AA or RAC would benefit from buying a European product if they were planning to travel in Europe within the next 12 months.

In addition to encouraging consumers to buy, TomTom want to communicate the fact that using a GPS adds security and reassurance to car journeys.  

The box illustrated above is the ONE Assist UK & ROI pack, product number  1EEE0.013.03.  It includes the ONE v4, the latest version of the TomTom ONE, with the new, all-in-one windscreen mount. Similar promotional packs are available for the ONE Assist Europe, product number 1EE0.002.17 and the XL Assist GB & ROI, product number 1EG0.013.03 and the XL Assist Europe, product number

The pricing for each assist product is identical to the underlying TomTom.

To claim the free breakdown assistance customers need to visit www.tomtompromotions.co.uk/assist and enter the ten digit code displayed on the inner panel of the promotional box. Then they need to complete the online application form using the TomTom serial number, and post the barcode and the application form to the address supplied. 

Free copies of a voice download voucher are available to Widget trade customers (or potential customers) while stocks last.

The voucher is a physical printed voucher, with a unique activation code printed on each one which entitles users to download "The Don" and "Sylvia" - two voices for the TomTom range of personal navigation devices. The voucher specifically refers to them working with the TomTom ONE, but in fact they work with the Go range as well.

The instructions on the voucher are

1. Switch on your TomTom ONE and connect it to your computer via USB cable provided

2. Download TomTom HOME software from www.tomtom.com and create a TomTom account. Log into TomTom Home.

3. Within TomTom HOME click the button "Activate my promotion code".  Enter your promotional code.

4. Finally download your free voices via TomTom HOME by clicking on the "Update" button.

The TomTom Go Live series of GPS is now in stock, and promotional boxes, such as the 940 Live pictured above, allows you to claim free fuel, worth £50 in the case of the 940. 

However, this does not mean that you open the box and a £50 note pops out.  The process is as follows:-

• Visit www.tomtompromotions.co.uk.  This website will have a link to the free fuel promotion, where customers will be able to enter the 10 digit code shown on inside the promotional wrappers around the Go Live units .
• Print the confirmation email, cut out the 10 digit code from this box wrap and post together with a copy of your receipt to the address supplied
• You will receive your TomTom prepaid Fuel debit card within 28 days.
• Valid claims must be received between 30 and 60 days from the date of purchase and applies to purchases made by 31^st March 2009

In fact, as you might guess from the name, this is not a new product. But TomTom are masters of positioning and packaging. By repackaging what was the ONE v3 (i.e. last year's model) into a new, smaller gift size bag and, more to the point, given it a £109 retail price, including full European mapping, they have delivered an attractive Christmas offer which is getting top billing in many stores.

Is it the latest product? Well, no, that is the TomTom ONE v4 Europe (part number 1EE.000202) but that retails for £149.99, thirty pounds more than the classic.  The new v4 units are sometimes known as the '22' series as they have mapping from 22 European countries (although they had to count Vatican City and San Marino to make up the numbers)

Here is the One Europe Classic in the cuboid box, next to the newer ONE Europe 22 in the orange box.

A similar TomTom ONE Classic GB (part number 1EC001300) is due shortly, completing the revival of the ONE v3 models. Accessories such as the ONE Additional Mount kit (9N00.101) will also fit the ONE classic models.

The website shows the public whether an item is in stock or not. To registered trade customers, it also shows trade prices, including price breaks, and the exact number of units we hold.

If you have not tried the services at www.widget.com, here's how to get started in four easy stages.

1.      If you have bought from us already, but not set up a password for the website, you need to know your account number with us, and the postcode of the invoicing address on our system. Look these up on any invoice or communication from us. 

2.      Go to the www.widget.com website, and click on the My Account link, or just click here.

3.      If you have ordered before, but not used the website click the 'Existing Customer' link.

4.      Here is where you need to know your account number and postcode. The password it asks for is the one you need to set so that you can come back to the website next time.

In fact, the order tracking and account management features you get to by logging in are just the tip of the iceberg. Trade customers can order by XML and receive automatic acknowledgement, we can do this too, but this needs a bit more setup and needs to be discussed with your account manager. 

The product cycle for GPS devices is now so short that, in the week that it won the Garmin and T3 Magazine "Product you can't live without" award, TomTom has discontinued supply of the TomTom Go 930T

According to T3 "Readers voted for the TomTom Go 930 above all else" despite the awards being sponsored by Garmin.

On October 2nd, the Independent newspaper also awarded the 930 the title of Best Luxury Buy. According to the Indie

“The GO 930’s software is designed to pick the fastest, most efficient route, factoring in traffic speeds and the day of the week. It’s easy to use whether you type in your address or use the voice input. Impressive.”

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