Audio companies WOOX Innovations and Onkyo Corporation have announced a long-term global partnership which will yield new audio products which are expected to arrive on Australian shelves later this year.
The partnership covers both product development and distribution, initially focusing on manufacturing high-fidelity Bluetooth speakers and headphones under the Onkyo brand. The first range of speakers and headphones are expected to launch in the second half of the year at IFA 2015.
WOOX Innovations was created by Philips when the Dutch company bundled its audio business into a wholly owned subsidiary, which it then sold to Nashville-based Gibson Brands in 2014. WOOX, now part of the Gibson stable, has the licence to use the Philips brand for at least the next seven years.
Prior to purchasing Woox, Gibson and Onkyo already had an established relationship, entering into a strategic partnership in January 2012. According to the company the agreement announced today “further advances Gibson Brands’ ambition to become the largest music lifestyle company in the world.”
“The partnership with WOOX Innovations presents a great opportunity for growth: both through collaboration on product development and through WOOX’s extensive global sales organisation, which is present in more than and manages sales in over 100 countries,” said Munenori Otsuki, president and CEO of Onkyo Corporation.
One priority for the WOOX and Onkyo partnership will be to grow the global market for high resolution audio.
“Today’s announcement is an important step forward in the implementation of our multibrand strategy, where we will collaborate with our partners in Gibson Brands to create and bring to market innovative products across a range of brands,” said Wiebo Vaartjes, CEO of WOOX Innovations.
“Onkyo has a great heritage, advanced technology capabilities and a strong brand: this partnership will create value for our companies, for our retail customers and most importantly for consumers.”
WOOX Innovations will be responsible for distribution of the new products that result from the partnership including bluetooth speakers and headphones. Onkyo will continue to be responsible for managing the global sales of its established portfolio, including Home Cinema Systems and A/V Receivers. In Australia, Onkyo is distributed by Amber Technology.
“We have a busy year ahead and are excited to be able to work with a new range of Onkyo products later this year. It is a company with a great heritage, advanced technology capabilities and a very strong brand,” said Tracey Duff, business leader for Australia and New Zealand at WOOX Innovations.