Seagate Launches new Consumer Storage Solutions

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At a press event this morning, Seagate announced two new products aimed to capitalize on the growing surge of data consumption in the consumer market. Dimitri Galle, Senior Director of EMEA Sales and Marketing for Seagate commented on how market trends are shifting from users consuming data on PCs and laptops to smartphones and tablets. This push towards a more mobile platform has its own challenges, which Seagate are hoping to curb with devices such as the Wireless Plus hard drive. The 1TB external HDD allows users to stream content to mobile devices without the need for an Internet connection, and up to three users can stream simultaneously from the device. But the technology isn't new, admits Ayman Al-Ajouz, Sales Manager MENA for Seagate. Other companies have launched similar products in the last few months, but Al-Ajouz is adamant that the Wireless Plus is the first drive that allows users to save and retrieve data wirelessly, whereas competitor products have been read-only wirelessly.

The company's second product, the Seagate Central, is a consumer NAS that allows users to store pictures, videos, music, and documents in once central location. The device also integrates with a special app for Samsung TVs, but is also compatible with AirPlay and DLNA devices. The device will come in either 2, 3, or 4TB sizes, and is due to be available at the end of March.

Press Release: Dubai, UAE — March 11, 2013: Seagate Technology, a worldwide leader in storage solutions, has introduced two of its most anticipated wireless network storage devices—the Seagate® Wireless Plus and Seagate® Central—to consumers across the UAE as part of the brand’s expansion plans within the Middle East retail electronics market.

During the Seagate product launch in UAE, several of the company’s regional executives were on hand to demonstrate the interoperability of the new devices while outlining the company’s strategy for increasing its market footprint in the Middle East.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Ayman Al-Ajouz, Sales Manager MENA for Seagate Branded Solutions, noted: “In an increasingly mobile world, smartphones and tablets are offering amazing opportunities for Seagate to provide new storage solutions to consumers in the Middle East. Automatic backups, Wi-Fi streaming, advanced mobile apps and integration with other media services are but a few of the key pillars that underscore our latest offerings; allowing users in the region to enjoy their content anytime without wires or even Internet access.”

Earlier this year, Seagate announced beating anticipated earnings per share in its last quarter, with global revenues of its last financial year coming in at USD$3.7bn alongside 58 million units shipped—representing about 43% of hard drive market.

Looking ahead, Mr. Dimitri Galle, Seagate Senior Director of Sales and Marketing EMEA, added that Seagate will continue to manage their Middle East business more precisely to market demand, focusing on profitability while investing for future market leadership in storage mobility, cloud and open source.

Seagate Wireless Plus

The new Seagate Wireless Plus builds on the success of the company’s first-generation product—the GoFlex Satellite drive. Earning a prestigious CES 2013 “Best of Innovations Award” earlier this year, the improved Seagate Wireless Plus is designed to wirelessly stream content for up to eight smartphones or tablets with enough space for up to 500 high-definition movies, extending the limits of today’s mobile lifestyle.

The new Seagate Wireless Plus now also includes a 10-hour battery life to match that of most tablets and smart phones. With the integrated 1TB drive provides all one needs to be entertained anywhere including long road trips or flights – without an Internet connection. Seagate Wireless Plus mobile device storage is accessed through the mobile Seagate Media app for Apple iOS, Android and Kindle Fire HD devices. Additionally, consumers can use Wireless Plus to enjoy video, photos, music and even documents on the big screen via Apple Airplay, DLNA or an app designed specifically for Samsung Smart TVs and Blu-ray players.

Seagate Wireless Plus mobile storage is currently available from all major retailers in the UAE for approximately AED 799.

Seagate Central

The first storage device to feature a Smart TV app for access to files on the big screen, the Seagate Central delivers automatic backup for the entire home, access to digital movies & music from networked devices, as well as remote access from outside a home network. Seagate has also taken a new step in making Central storage a low-profile horizontal design, which takes cues from home entertainment and looks great in any living room.

By focusing on the number one need for homes with more than one computer, Seagate designed an easy, centralized backup for each computer in the home, regardless of operating system. Seagate retooled the software and user experience for the Seagate Central shared storage so that it seamlessly provides a backup for each system on a home network, even in a mixed platform environment of Windows OS and Mac OS X computers. In addition to automatic and continuous backup of all the computers in a home, Seagate Central can also backup photos and videos directly from Facebook.

In addition to its primary role as a total home backup device to organize content in one location, Central storage is also designed for easy media streaming. Once all your files and rich media are safely on the drive, Central storage organizes the content for you according to media type, such as videos, pictures, music and documents.

Seagate Central storage will be available from all major retailers in UAE by end of March.