On CE - For Dealers, Distributors and OEMs of Consumer Electronics throughout EMEA

Following the Pronto's fate, Philips' sexual massagers are next to shut down.

Bloomberg reports Philips will stop selling the products as soon as remaining stocks are sold. Philips apparently doesn't want to mention how many devices Philips actually sold or how much stock it has.

Philips started its "Relationship Care" category in 2008, after saying the W. European market for such devices was worth €280 million-- and growing 15% annually.

Now Philips is claiming these devices proved "too high a threshold" for Philips' customers after all.

The company claims the shutdown is unrelated to Philips' consumer lifestyle unit's management change earlier this year (Pieter Nota replaced Andrea Ragnetti in September).

But clearly this is a shift...maybe the sales of these devices were not prolific compared to the prolific unwanted editorial bashing that conservative Philips received on their behalf? And maybe new management didn't like the rub-off in reputation when compared to sales volume?

Hard to believe they will sit on their stock when their head office is in Amsterdam...

Go Bloomberg: Philips Will Stop Selling Sexual Massage Products

Go Philips Sensual Massagers

The W. European in-car electronics market shows signs of recovery in Q3, says Gfk Retail.

Q3 2010 car audio product demand is 5% below 2009-- up from -11% in 2010's first half. However, CD tuner and amplifier prices remain stable.

A new category of "Mechaless" devices (players with MP3 player, USB and SD-card connections but no CD drive) shows remarkable growth. This new device category now has 10% market share, up from 3% in 2009.

Demand for car multimedia and navigation product groups is also on the increase-- in Q3 demand is 7% below Q3 2009, up from -15% in Q2 2010.

Navigation devices in 2DIN format are up by 35%. A new product category contributes to this growth-- double DIN tray devices demand grows by 60% in 2010.

Premium portable navigation devices (with live information access) are also growing. This segment now covers 8% of the entire PND market.

Gfk says young clientele are willing to spend more for innovations and absolute added value-- especially if device installation prices (after car purchase) are more attractive and technically superior to in-built devices.

The researcher also expects a boom for the introduction of internet-connected devices, not just within radio but also multimedia. However even GfK claims it doesn't know when this will happen.

Go GfK Retail: W. Europe In-Car Electronics Recovery in Q3 2010

Apple gives up on its sim-free iPhone plans due to operator pressure, the UK Telegraph reports

The California tech giant hoped to move away from its exclusive carrier  partnerships (like Vodafone, O2 and Telefonica) via programmable sim card that would allow iPhone buyers to pick any service provider they want.

However operators threaten to withold iPhone subsidies-- leaving Apple no choice but to kill the idea (for now, at least).

Apple wants to build closer relationships with customers-- and cut out operators.

Rumours persist Apple will bring out an integrated-sim iPad in either the run-up to Christmas or early 2011.

Go Apple iPhone Sim Card Plan Thwarted (The Telegraph)

The CEA says CE spending in USA will reach historic highs this Christmas, despite an overall decline in gift spending.

The association's 17th Annual CE Holiday Purchase Patterns Study shows CE remains the "hottest" gifts to give and receive. Nearly a third of customers' gift budgets will be allocated to CE purchases.

Half of customers plan to buy a CE gift for children on their lists, 20% will buy a CE gift for their spuouse/significant other and 29% will buy CE for themselves.

The study also reveals the top 10 devices for the season:

1. Laptop
2. iPad
3. eReader
4. iPod/iPod Touch
5. Video Game System
6. Digital Camera
7. Big Screen TV
8. TV
9. Computer
10. Desktop PC

The CEA says consumers want the newest technologies-- and stores stocking these products will do well as a result.

Consumers are planning to spend more this Christmas than the last, with 20% planning to increase their holiday budgets.

Go CEA: Consumer Spending on CE to Reach All-Time High