Parrot AR.Drone Takes Flight in Canada

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December 1, 2010
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Parrot AR.Drone Takes Flight in Canada

First quadricopter piloted by Wi-Fi arrives today online at Best Buy Canada

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Parrot AR.Drone, the first quadricopter controlled by an iPod touch®, iPhone® or iPad(TM), takes flight this month in cities around Canada.  The first Parrot AR.Drones, sold by retail partner Best Buy Canada (http://www.bestbuy.ca), will begin arriving this month to aspiring pilots across the country.

The AR.Drone, which retails for $349 CAD, is available online at Best Buy Canada. Parrot, aleader in wireless peripherals for mobile phones, first introduced the AR.Drone concept at the Consumer Electronics Show in January and has ignited a piloting frenzy in the United States and several other countries.

"Canadians have been asking for the AR.Drone since we began flying it at CES," said Christian Coly, Parrot's North American vice president of sales and marketing. "We're proud to offer our latest product with our longstanding partner and know that customers will thoroughly enjoy the flying experience of the AR.Drone."

Each AR.Drone includes:

    --  AR.Drone with internal hull
    --  1 external hull
    --  1 battery
    --  1 battery charger and 4-pin mains adapter
    --  1 set of stickers
    --  1 quick start guide

The AR.Drone combines real and virtual worlds to offer an unparalleled flight experience. A front camera broadcasts and streams what the AR.Drone is seeing onto the iPod touch, iPhone or iPad screen and provides the opportunity for augmented reality games.

"Presales of the Parrot AR.Drone have been very strong. Consumers can't wait to get their hands on this groundbreaking tech gadget and we're thrilled to be the Canadian retailer to bring this technology to our customers," said Derek Rogalsky, Director of Merchandising for Best Buy Canada.

About the Parrot® AR.Drone Quadricopter

The Parrot AR.Drone is extremely easy to fly in both indoor and outdoor settings. The AR.Drone generates its own Wi-Fi network at which you simply connect an iPod touch or iPhone. The AR.FreeFlight application is a free app in the App Store and allows for the AR.Drone to be piloted via the iPod touch/iPhone/iPad. Once in-flight, the accelerometer of the iPod touch/iPhone/iPad detects all of the movements and the AR.Drone will mirror all movements made by the iPod touch/iPhone/iPad while the pilot's left thumb is on the control button.

The AR.Drone uses MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanicals Systems), three axes accelerometer, two gyrometers [one axe & two axes], one ultrasound sensor and one vertical camera to automatically stabilize once it takes off. This allows for very stable flights for even beginner pilots.

The AR.Drone-Pilot Academy at http://www.ardrone.com provides multiple videos and instructions that prepare aspiring AR.Drone pilots for flight. It also connects AR.Drone fans from around the world. More information about the AR.Drone can be found at http://www.parrot.com/facebook or http://www.twitter.com/ardrone.

About PARROT

Parrot, a global leader in wireless devices for mobile phones, stands on the cutting edge of innovation. The company was founded in 1994 by Henri Seydoux as part of his determination to drive the inevitable breakthrough of mobile phones into everyday life by creating high-quality, user-friendly wireless devices for easy living. Parrot has developed the most extensive range of hands-free systems on the market for cars, motorbikes and scooters, including wireless multimedia products geared towards audiovisual applications. In 2008, Parrot launched a new prestige line of high-end products bearing the hallmark of renowned artists and in 2010, the AR.Drone, the first quadricopter piloted via Wi-Fi and using augmented reality.

Parrot, headquartered in Paris, currently employs 450 people worldwide and generates 85% of its sales overseas. Parrot is listed on NYSE Euronext Paris since 2006. (FR0004038263 - PARRO)

More information : http://www.parrot.com / http://www.ardrone.com / http://www.parrotoem.com

*iPhone and iPod touch are registered trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. iPad is a trademark of Apple Inc. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.

SOURCE  Parrot

Parrot

CONTACT: Tim Wieland, Airfoil PR for Parrot, +1-248-304-1414, parrot@airfoilpr.com

Web Site: http://www.parrotoem.com

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