FEATURE/What's Hot for Christmas is Really ``Cool'' - Hip, High-Tech Gifts for the Home Top Christmas Lists in 2002

Business Wire, Nov 14, 2002

Business Editors, High-Tech & Retail Writers

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CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 14, 2002

Last year, Americans spent an average of $580 on holiday gifts. Surprised? Don't be. In 2002, more than 75 percent said they expect to spend even more. So what are they buying? Two words: high-tech. Everything from power tools and computers to small wireless electronics and gadgets -- anything trendy, high-tech and made for the home is expected to be in very high demand this holiday season.

So what's fueling the high-tech, home-gifting trend? According to many retailers, it appears the demand for these types of presents is being driven by the fact that families are still sticking closer to home, spending more time with their loved ones and traveling less.

"We see that consumers are looking for gifts that increase comfort and simplify lives," says Shary Nassimi, CEO of International Electronics Inc (I.E.I). "We certainly are seeing more family and home-oriented products that add to the quality of life."

So what are the hottest gifts this year to give that special someone on your list who considers themselves a "techie"?

Catch-A-Call

For the person whose life revolves around the computer, a Catch-A-Call unit is the perfect gift. Small business owners, college students, stay-at-home moms and busy families (with kids on-line all day) can benefit from this handy little device that allows Internet connections to easily be put on hold while answering a phone call or receiving a fax. When someone calls while you're online, the device rings just like a telephone and lights up red. If you decide to answer, simply pick up the phone and speak to the caller. In the meantime, your Internet connection is automatically placed on hold and will remain that way until you are done talking on the phone. Once finished with the conversation, simply hang up and continue your previous on-line activity, as the computer will re-dial and reconnect exactly where you left off before you answered the call.

TeleZapper

Now you can give the gift of privacy and eliminate disruptive computer-dialed telemarketing phone calls with the TeleZapper from Privacy Technologies Inc. The TeleZapper is a small, sleek unit that attaches to your telephone line and dramatically reduces the number of frustrating telemarketing calls. When you answer the phone, the predictive dialing computer immediately connects you to a live telemarketer, who, of course, tries to sell something. But now when you or your answering machine picks up a call, the TeleZapper emits a special tone that tells the computer your number is disconnected. Within seconds, your phone number is dropped off the computer's list, and Zap ... the telemarketer never gets through. Over time, as your phone number is dropped from more and more lists, the TeleZapper will virtually eliminate telemarketing calls all together.

Revolution

Usually shoppers don't consider a showerhead to be a high-tech gift, but this is no ordinary showerhead. The Revolution showerhead from Moen spins each water droplet while simultaneously twisting the whole shower stream. The result is spinning, twisting, spiraling water and phenomenal coverage. Showering with Revolution, users feel enveloped in the water stream. Larger drops of water make the shower feel warmer and the increased speed of the water drops results in a perception of higher flow, higher pressure and the sensation of a massaging shower. Revolution is the perfect gift for everyone in the family -- it's a great wake up shower in the morning, relaxing relief after a tough day, or a therapeutic respite to ease sore muscles or joints after physical activity. And the new Revolution Hand Shower lets users take complete control of the showering experience to position the water where it's wanted.

Wireless Digital Weather Station

Does someone on your list think he's the next Al Roker? Then GE's Consumer Products' new Wireless Weather Station is the perfect gift. This state-of-the-art product includes a number of unique feature combinations, including standard options such as temperature, humidity, date and time; as well as unique options such as ice alerts, lunar cycles, barometers and even trend graphs. The Wireless Digital Weather Station is battery-operated for convenience, and gives consumers the freedom to place a sensor inside or out.

For more information about these products visit the following Web sites: catchacall.com, telezapper.com, moen.com and gelighting.com. Or, call Julie Molnar or Chris Lynch at Robert Falls & Co. Public Relations, (216) 696-0229.

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