CEO Colin Angle shares iRobot vision, showcases new home robots during keynote address
DIGITALLIFE 2007, NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2007 – iRobot Corp. (Nasdaq: IRBT) Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Colin Angle today unveiled two new home robots during his keynote address. The iRobot® Looj™ Gutter Cleaning Robot and iRobot® ConnectR™ Virtual Visiting Robot further expand the company's line of home robots. These robots introduce a whole new category of household assistants that are more than appliances. Angle also shared the company's vision for "the iRobot Home" during his highly anticipated keynote address.
Building on the success of the company's iRobot® Roomba® Vacuum Cleaning Robot, with more than 2 million units sold to date, today's introductions expand iRobot's home product lineup to include six different robots that simplify the care, maintenance and communication needs of home owners.
"I'm here to demystify the notion that robots in the home are a promise of tomorrow. Today iRobot is delivering to customers practical home robots that are affordable, effective and easy-to-use," said Angle. "The future is now – and everyone can and should have a robot in their home today."
A first of its kind, the iRobot Looj Gutter Cleaning Robot is designed to simplify the difficult and dangerous job of gutter cleaning. The Looj cleans an entire stretch of gutter from one location, reducing the number of times a ladder must be repositioned and climbed during gutter cleaning. The 2.25-inch high Looj drives easily under gutter straps propelled by a three-stage auger that dislodges and sweeps out dirt, leaves and other debris that can cause costly water damage, overspills and ice dams.
The Looj also features a detachable handle that doubles as a wireless remote control, providing full control of the robot while cleaning. With a starting price under $100, the Looj is available immediately in the U.S. from www.irobot.com and in select retailers in the fourth quarter of 2007.
The iRobot ConnectR marks the company's entry into a new category of virtual communication and interaction, a significant step beyond its traditional universe of cleaning and maintenance. ConnectR is a new kind of communications system designed for today's busy families and individuals seeking greater connection and involvement with kids, grandchildren, friends and pets.
The ConnectR links easily to a home wireless network and provides VOIP-quality video and two way audio communications with a remote person. Similar in scale to the Roomba, the ConnectR features a top-mounted, full tilt-and-zoom video camera, speaker, microphone and headlight to enable users to see, hear and interact with people in the home as if there in person. The ConnectR is simple to operate via included ConnectR software, enabling remote users to "call" and drive the ConnectR around the home using a computer keyboard, mouse or joystick. Like other iRobot home robots, the ConnectR has a charging base located in the home. When the ConnectR's battery runs low, the unit automatically returns to the home base to charge.
iRobot ConnectR Pilot Program
In late 2007, a limited number of ConnectR robots will be available from iRobot as part of the ConnectR Pilot Program. Select participants in this home experience program will have the opportunity to home test and purchase the ConnectR for $199. More information on the ConnectR Pilot Program is available at www.irobot.com.
The ConnectR will become broadly available in early 2008 through iRobot and select retail partners with a starting price of under $500.
Images and B-Roll
High-resolution images can be found at http://www.irobot.com/creative_assets. Looj product b-roll can be downloaded from www.thenewsmarket.com/iRobot.
About iRobot Corp.
iRobot is a provider of robots that perform dull, dirty or dangerous missions in a better way. The company's proprietary technology, iRobot AWARE™ Robot Intelligence Systems, incorporates advanced concepts in navigation, mobility, manipulation and artificial intelligence. This proprietary system enables iRobot to build behavior-based robots, including its family of consumer and military robots. For additional information about iRobot, please visit www.irobot.com.
For iRobot Investors
Certain statements made in this press release that are not based on historical information are forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, iRobot Corp.'s expectations concerning product development and marketing plans, its business outlook and business momentum, the commercial launch of its products, market acceptance of its products and management's plans, objectives and strategies. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. In particular, the risks and uncertainties include, among other things: our ability to enhance our current consumer robots or develop new consumer robots; and our ability to expand our product offering beyond our current markets. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. iRobot Corp. undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. For additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by iRobot Corp., see the disclosure contained in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.
| Contact: | |
| Nancy Dussault Media Relations (781) 418-3323 ndussault@irobot.com |
Leah Taylor A&R Edelman for iRobot Corp. (212) 704-8126 ltaylor@ar-edelman.com |