Gateway Ships Portable Music Player

Gateway is pushing further into consumer electronics with the introduction of the Gateway Digital Audio Player, a 1.5-ounce USB device that also provides portable storage and voice recording.

The sleek black-and-silver device is described as roughly the size of a pack of chewing gum, and is just 0.5 inches wide. The first version, available this week online and at Gateway country stores, is the Model DMP-200, with 128MB of storage and a price tag of $129.99. Scheduled for release August 14 is the DMP-300, with 256MB of storage, priced at $169.99.

Product Specs

The Gateway Digital Audio Player connects directly to PCs through a built-in USB port. The controls let users format and delete music files, as well as create custom play lists directly from the player, which has a backlit display.

The company is pushing the device's multiple uses. Gateway estimates the 128MB version stores up to two hours of digital music in MP3 or WMA format, or up to 122MB of data files. The digital voice recorder can store up to nine hours of voice dictation.

It's intended to make it "easy for consumers to enjoy their music and other media in the living room, in the office, or on the go," says Matt Milne, vice president and general manager of Gateway's digital solutions group.

The Gateway MP3 player comes with a neck strap, earbud stereo headphones, user's guide, installation CD, and one battery. The player delivers more than ten hours of playback from a single AAA battery, according to Gateway.

Welcome Entry

It's the latest in a string of consumer product announcements from Gateway. The company has said it is putting new emphasis on consumer products.

"Gateway has been doing pretty well in this consumer space," says Rob Enderle, analyst with Enderle Research. He says Gateway's progressive scan DVD player has distinguished itself as a capable consumer entertainment device, so the portable music player should be well received.

Gateway's plasma display, introduced in July, is another example of a successful venture into consumer marketing, Enderle adds.

"They're getting their arms around this technology, and know what the consumer is looking for," he adds.

However, Enderle notes that Gateway will soon be facing new competition in market for digital music players. Long battery life and big storage capacity in a lightweight package will be key selling points, he says.

"High-capacity, one-gigabyte devices are going to be coming out from a number of vendors," he says.