S3 forms frontpath to support 'Lifestyle' category

Santa Clara, CA-based S3 Inc. has formed frontpath, a wholly owned subsidiary, which will provide information appliance products and services, delivering personalized communication solutions that enable consumers to live a connected lifestyle at home, at work, and at play.

Its business model combines technologies and strategic partners to deliver personalized access to information, entertainment, communication, transactions, and services, creating a new category of customizable information appliances targeted to lifestyle needs of today's "connected" user. The initial product, an approximately three-pound solution, will be broadband-based, wireless, and contain a large screen—an unprecedented combination in the consumer electronics industry.

"We are at the threshold of defining a new class of information appliances—a solution that is ideal for today's multi-tasking consumer who wants instant access, always-on communication devices," said Janet Leising, frontpath general manager.

Initial products and services will be targeted to vertical markets that can leverage features and functionality for the connected consumer segment. The company will focus initially on securing agreements with key strategic partners to bring this solution to consumers who keep pace with today's information-intense culture.

"We've seen phenomenal interest in the real estate, travel, medical, educational, and financial service segments, to name a few," said Ward Williams, frontpath's director of product marketing. "Initially these markets and many more like them are extremely interested in customizing content to instantly show end users what they want to know, wherever they are—the possibilities are endless."

The company intends that its products be differentiated by its business model, which plans to leverage strategic partners to deliver personalized, instant access, always-on information. This approach is different from that taken by the PC model. PCs and PC Internet appliances deliver end users with predetermined and often restricted content, while frontpath plans to deliver partners and end users with consumer-defined content.

"By creating a wholly owned subsidiary, we have given tremendous autonomy to the frontpath team," said Ken Potashner, chairman and CEO of S3. "We have been able to attract the talent necessary to enable success. Through our current efforts and forthcoming partnership announcements, we believe we can achieve a leadership position as an information appliance product and service provider."

Edited by Ellen Jensen
Managing Editor, Wireless Networks Online