Universal Electronics Tapped By Cox Communications To Provide New Remotes

Universal Electronics has announced that Cox Communications has selected UEI to supply their next generation universal remote control.
The customised remote control includes many new features tailored for the third-largest US cable television service provider and complements Cox's new Trio interactive guide.
The new custom remote control has begun shipping from UEI to Cox and will be available to the entire Cox subscriber base. Along with control of the set-top boxes Cox deploys, this universal remote can also control televisions, DVD players, and audio-visual attachments for home theatres, all covered by UEI's world-class IR control database.
New features include:

• User Button - This feature will allow easy access to the Trio interactive guide personalised profiles from which the consumer can access a personalised list of favourite channels and guide features
• Closed Captioning Button - This feature will allow users to easily and quickly toggle Closed Captioning display on and off
• Backlighting - This feature improves ease of use in dark or dimly lit TV viewing environments
• Low battery indication - This feature provides support for on-screen notification that remote control battery should be replaced
• UEI QuickSwap - Typical remote control devices for cable operators are programmed to work with only one set-top box from the factory. With UEI's QuickSwap, the remote can be reprogrammed for multiple set-top boxes, eliminating the need for operators, such as Cox, to keep a separate inventory of remotes for each set-top-box deployment
• UEI SimpleSet - Universal remote control setup is dramatically simplified by eliminating the need to reference a code list or enter device codes. With UEI SimpleSet, the most popular brands of TVs, DVDs and audio devices are assigned to digit keys 0-9, allowing most subscribers to set up a device in three simple steps
• Easy Upgradeable Port - The new Cox custom remote controls include an upgrade port on the outside of the remote for quick and easy access for field software upgrades. This feature, combined with UEI's EZ Updater PC application and lei EZ Updater Hub, will enable multiple remotes to be updated in seconds with a single click of a mouse

Paul Arling, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Universal Electronic, said: "We are honoured and excited to continue our relationship with such a leader in cable entertainment as Cox. Both of our companies have a relentless focus on the customer, and together we will continue to provide an even better user experience."
Lisa Pickelsimer, Executive Director of Product Development for Cox Communications, said: "At a time when the consumer has more home entertainment choices than ever, cable television still leads the way. What's equally important as the depth of content offerings from Cox is the ease of use for our customers. Cox's goal in creating the new remote control design is to improve the usability of our video offerings."
(KMcA)