``If you fly by Alaskan Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines or RyanAir today you will be able to enjoy one of the most advanced digital media players in the world, to hear music or view movies. Next week in Las Vegas (United States), at an international Consumer Electronics Show, at least half dozen manufacturers will unveil their own branded versions of the portable media player - which for the first time, will not only play audio and video but also will allow users to record and store up to 50 full length movies - that will cost around $ 300 a piece.``

My take is that Ittiam, and EDIG, have licensed the tech to to support production for at least six entities, and the licensee is able to produce mass quantities, thereby enabling the $300 price point. We`ve guesstimated a cost to EDIG of ~$450 for IFE digEs, but this is with relatively low-volume production. Bigger quantities=lower cost per unit.

Remember, EDIG has patented or has patent(s) pending on the workings of the digE for which they are responsible. Sounds like they`re following Plan A by licensing a la Qualcom.

Licensing agreements and royalties - no action required but to count the money. Yowza! Please let this be real, and announce it to the world! And, it seems to me that if Ittiam can announce what`s revealed in this article, so can EDIG (no names, but very juicy!).

This whole scenario would close a lot of space between dots; new Asian licensee (could be one entity producing for all brands), multi-$B company interested in licensing, the silence, the PPS action (accumulation?), etc.

If this is what I think it is (based on this write-up) and is ``real``, CES could be real exciting this year, especially if, once introduced, there is some recognition of EDIG inside.

SGE