Bucking Rumors of Delays, Samsung Ships First Blu-Ray Player
Posted Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 12:05 AM PDT by
Despite media reports to the contrary, Samsung has announced it has begun
shipping its first Blu-ray player to retailers nationwide to coincide with the
release next week of the first Blu-ray disc releases.
Though media outlets including IMDB.com and Pocket-lint reported earlier this
week that the scheduled June 25 launch date for Samsung's first BD-P1000 Blu-ray
player had been officially delayed until September, a spokesperson for the electronics
manufacturer confirmed late yesterday to PC World that the next-gen
deck would still ship on schedule.
Blu-ray is not delayed," said Jim Sanduski, senior vice president of marketing
for Samsung's audio and video products group. "We have thousands of units
that are in transit to retail today; they have already shipped from our warehouse,
and will be received over the course of the next week.You can expect significant
retailer advertising announcing that Blu-ray has arrived."
Sanduski added that Samsung plans to launch the $999 BD-P1000 "with more
storefronts and more quanitity than Toshiba," which released its first two
HD DVD decks to retailers last month.
To further alloy fears, Samsung also issued an official press release heralding
the arrival of the BD-P1000. The
full
release can be read here via the company's corporate website.