Co-Branded Products to Hit Store Shelves in March
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- International CES -- Extreme online
gamer and cyber-athlete Rafik 'LoSt-CaUze' Bryant has signed a co-branding
agreement that will put his photo and 'LoSt-CaUzE' moniker on the boxes of
three Able Planet headphone models to be sold through retail and online
gaming stores and the Able Planet website. Bryant wears the company's
headphones when he is gaming to eliminate external noise distractions and
protect his hearing by providing full sound at lower volumes.
The co-branded products will include Able Planet's $49.99 Clear
Harmony(TM) Stereo Headphones, designed for gaming and general use; $79.99
Clear Harmony(TM) Gaming Headphones with Mic, designed for online
multiplayer gaming; and $149.99 Sound Clarity(TM) Active Noise Canceling
Headphones, designed to block outside noise. All three models will be
available in co- branded versions in March.
The products incorporate a proprietary Able Planet technology called
Linx Audio(TM), originally developed for a new generation of
top-of-the-line hearing aids, delivers superior sound quality and clarity
while also increasing the perception of loudness without forcing users to
crank up the volume to potentially damaging levels. All three models have
also received innovation awards at either the 2006 or 2007 International
Consumer Electronics Shows.
Bryant plans to give $25,000 of his initial $100,000 Able Planet
sponsorship check to E-World Project ( http://www.eworldproject.org ), a
coalition of non-profit organizations that supports youth, individual,
family and senior programs. He teamed with Able Planet because of his own
experience with the company's headphones, the advantages of the company's
technology in preserving hearing, and a mutual belief in charitable giving.
Able Planet donates 10% of its online sales to charity, while Bryant gives
up to half of the prize money he wins at various tournaments to
philanthropic organizations.
"This relationship gives me a chance to endorse a product I believe in,
increase my support to charity, and use my reputation in the gaming
community as a soapbox to talk about a technology that can help protect
against hearing damage," Bryant said. "When I'm wearing Able Planet
headphones, I can block out the noise of the crowd, so that I don't have to
increase the volume so high. The message is simple: turn it down."
Bryant is well-known on the extreme online gaming circuit. His 2006
honors include first place showings in the ESReality.com American
Invitational 2006 Online, QuakeCon 2006 Quick Draw, Kode5 USA Qualifier
2006, and Rage Expo South Africa; and second or third place showings in the
last two World Series of Video Games and the Kode5 Germany Finals. He is
currently in seventh place in the Global Gaming League's top 100 rankings.
He adopted the 'LoSt-CaUze' persona (his website is
http://www.lost-cauze.com ) when people started joking that it was a "lost
cause" to play against him.
"Rafik is going to be a strong spokesman for our headphones and our
'Turn It Down' hearing preservation campaign," said Kevin Semcken, CEO of
Able Planet Inc. "He is a superstar in the gaming world, and he will
increase the visibility of our products as well as provide a respected
voice to warn gamers about the long-term effects of loud audio."
About Able Planet Inc.
Able Planet designs and manufactures innovative audio and communication
devices for individuals with all levels of hearing. The company's products
range from headphones and telephones to assistive listening devices
featuring Able Planet's patent-pending Linx Audio technology, and have won
numerous honors including 10 International Consumer Electronics Show
awards. They are marketed through Able Planet, resellers, audiology
networks, nonprofit foundations and strategic partners. The privately held
company is headquartered in Denver. For more information, visit
http://www.ableplanet.com .
SOURCE Able Planet Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.ableplanet.com
http://www.lost-cauze.com http://cesweb.org/default.asp
http://www.eworldproject.org
CONTACT:
Lisa Deutch for Able Planet Inc.,
+1-847-415-9321, ldeutch@sspr.com
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