Philips to sell its Audio and Video division.

[Nishanth]

Philips has decided to sell its Consumer electronics business to Funai electric of Japan. Philips will only retain and focus on its home appliances, health care and personal care business.

Philips to sell its audio, video, multimedia and accessories business to Funai | whathifi.com

Its sad to see a consumer electronics giant and a pioneer in AV business beeing reduced to a company making stuff like shavers and juicers

 

[reubensm]

Oh, that ends quite a long run, Philips used to manufacture some great gear in the 1960s and 1970s. They also gave us the audio cassette. Funai in Japan? thought it was in Taiwan.

 

[koushik]

Ya right. Just read the news in papers as well. Sad as it was once use to be my fav brand in AV. Our crt tv, boom boxes, dvd players are all from Philips. Even my ear buds

 

[deba]

Philips should have sold the A/V division 10 years back looking at the quality of products they were making at the end ........

 

[rbalagopalan]

Philips should have sold the A/V division 10 years back looking at the quality of products they were making at the end ........

Philips as a company they are good inventors but they have failed to make their products more commercially viable. To day what ever laser technology in audio and video we use were all invented by them. Infact one of the best DACs produced is Philips 1541 S1 & S2 which is even to day is being kept as a reference. We cannot forget the quality of the systems they produced way back in 80s.

It is the curse for almost many european brands not to exile in the international market due to their high manufacturing costs despite giving quality products.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

They also gave us the audio cassette.

I didn't know that. Perhaps not their finest hour in sound quality, but almost as big in significance as vinyl. If Philips gave us the cassette, Sony put it in our pockets and out on the street/train/bus

They, with Sony, gave us the CD. The S/P in S/PDIF stands for Sony/Philips. This is some of the biggest things in audio history.

There are companies with marketing departments that brain wash people into calling them innovative --- and there are the true innovators. Damn marketing departments: how many out there remember that it was Sony that gave us portable music, long before a certain other company was even thinking about music-playing. Why isn't the "generic" name Walkman? "Must remember to put the walkman in my pocket; ok, it isn't a real walkman, it's made by Apple."

Sony has been brain-dead for a while. Now Philips, I guess, won't be doing R&D in this area. Perhaps it will go on under new ownership.

BTW... Why the hell can't Logitech sell their Audio division. To someone who understands the value of the Squeezebox. Hey ho, that's history: sometimes it seems only the wrong things happen.

 

[riteshmadhok]

RIP Philips, You were good when you were the original one

 

[Santy]

Its sad to see a consumer electronics giant and a pioneer in AV business beeing reduced to a company making stuff like shavers and juicers

What do you mean reduced?
Do you know they also manufacture high end imaging products like PET CT costing upto INR 20 crores a unit.

 

[just4kix]

Philips exists in many other areas and not just consumer electronics. They have medical equipment, electronic testing equipment, lighting, healthcare, dental care, personal hygiene, etc. They continue to invest massively into r&D and then earn money via royalties.

 

[reubensm]

I remember my dad taking me as a kid to a friend's place (he was in the merchant navy) sometime in 1981. He had a small (I think 7 watts/channel) holland philips amplifier with book shelf speakers connected to an AR turntable. I remember being blown away by the sound that came out of it. He played the Disco Deewane LP by Nazia Hassan. One distinct feature of this amp was that it had thumb operated controls for volume, bass, treble and balance. I remember asking my dad if his friend had hidden a bigger speaker under the sofa as the bass had so much impact. That's by far the best experience I've had with Philips.

 

[viper08]

Many don't know it makes one of the finest baby products such as bottles.
Philips is also in kitchen, beauty & smaller household electrical appliances.

 

[Vijay_s]

Last 1-2 decades they were not manufacturing any audio video equipment that worth mentioning or that is of Value For Money.

Let them concentrate on something that is good for them as well as for customers.

When there were no alternate I bought philips powerhouse series twice. The one with 5.1 output had rear speakers sounding like knocking on aluminium oil can.

RIP

 

[mpw]

while we all agree with svkndv.. let us also look back at a fantastic company with many inventions in the past to its credit. We enjoyed many things invented by Philips in our daily lives.

This is not the end of Philips.. rather it could be a new beginning.. they are going back to where it all started for them.

They are walking the talk which other companies are only talking loudly about ( ie selling off non value added and focus on core competencies. Competencies are not static.. they change with time )

This article on whathifi will take the reader thru the great brand that is Philips.

Having been a member of the Philips family ( in a way.. ) ( dad contributed 28 years of his life there ) and also having had the good fortune to visit Eindhoven, Holland.. where a close relative still works for Philips..i think this retro move could be good for the company to re-assess its future options.

Used to be a PSV Eindhoven fan.. many many inncoent moons ago.. a small snippet from the article
==============================================================

When he went to see his team play, Frits Philips didn't sit in a director's box: instead he took the same seat in the midst of the crowd for every game, reflecting his lifelong dealing with workers and management alike.

On the day he died, his team won its match, and after his death it was decided his seat should always remain empty in his memory.

That win on the night of his death? 2-0, at home, against Fenebahce, Champions League.

Which is why, if you ever go to see a PSV Eindhoven home game, even if there's a capacity crowd, seat 43 in row 22 of section D will always be vacant.
==============================================================

Every company has a story to tell.. some products flopped.. some were way ahead of their time. But it is not by flopped products or selling of divisions that we need to be judgmental about.. companies like Philips have withstood the test of time.. been there done that..

I sign off this thread leaving you with this link and wish Philips good luck !

Philips: flogging off the family silver? No, just going back to where the Philips brothers started | whathifi.com

rgds
mpw

 

[Santy]

I had this surround system for several year before I joined this forum. I was quite happy with it. It was a class D receiver without player. This is unlike the latest ones they make in the name of HTiB.

I think not only companies, sometimes individuals have to say NO. It a powerful word which one have to use it at the right moment if we are chasing success. Philips did it and they are probably glad about it. But I think yes, people will miss Philips.

I hope Funai, who has purchased it will be able to do justice to the brand. I vaguely remember people talking about Akai - Funai together, in VCR days. I guess it should be the same company