Xantrex Technology and Mobility Electronics have signed an agreement to jointly develop and market a new family of portable power inverter products. The new products will combine Xantrex’s inverter technology and Mobility’s itip technology, which uses interchangeable tips to power many types of mobile electronic devices.
These new power inverters will convert dc power from a vehicle, boat or airplane outlet into standard 110 Vac to power a broad range of consumer electronics products such as televisions, radios, power tools, etc. The products will be equipped with an additional 15-W dc output port, compatible with Mobility’s itip technology, to enable the simultaneous charging of a second mobile electronic device such as a cell phone, digital camera, portable video game player or iPOD.
Introduction of the first of these new products is scheduled for the latter part of 2005. Xantrex will market these new products under the XPower by Xantrex brand and Mobility will sell under its iGo brand. Each company also has the right to manufacture private label versions of the new products for various customers. Furthermore, each company can market, under its own brand name, a range of separately developed dc adaptor and portable power products manufactured by the other.
"This agreement with Xantrex expands our market to include power inverters, which we believe can generate meaningful incremental revenue for Mobility," said Charles Mollo, CEO of Mobility Electronics. "Many users of our power adapters also purchase inverters, and this agreement will allow us to leverage our itip technology and expand our offering of power product solutions. In addition, we will benefit from Xantrex’s ability to market our products under its brand into the recreational vehicle, marine, commercial truck and consumer electronics markets, where Xantrex already has a strong presence.