Archos (OTC: OTC:ACOSF) (JXR: FP), the French manufacturer of tablets and androids have many upcoming events in 2014 that should be well analyzed. First of all, as per Loic Poirier, Chief executive of Archos SA, the company shipped in 2013 over 2 million units of its products and is still the third largest supplier in Europe.
1- New tablets:
Decathlon (a major French distributor of sporting goods) and Archos entered into an agreement project that will be developed in 2014 aiming to introduce a new Smartphone dedicated exclusively to outdoor adventurers. By this development project Archos will extend its client base to include sport lovers. With this new Smartphone, customers are expected to talk for over 22 hours with a fully charged battery. It also contains water resistant setting for underwater photography and a screen responding to gloved fingers for a competitive price of 313 USD.
Additionally, Archos added two 4G LTE Smartphones to its diversified mobile devices segment. The first named 45 Helium has a screen of 4.5 inches, 4 GB built-in memory and a 5 megapixel rear camera for 200 USD. The second, Archos 50 Helium has a screen of 5 inches with 8 GB storage and 8 megapixels camera for 250 USD. Customers who cannot afford buying Apple (AAPL) or Samsung (OTC:SSNLF) products, can have access to the latest technologies with a cheap price through these Smartphones.
2- Investing in Logic Instrument:
Logic Instrument (ALLOG), a French manufacturer of military and industrial tablets, entered recently into a deal with Archos. Logic will issue an additional 2.2 million shares and Archos will acquire 70% of this issuance. Archos will expand through the business market with the best experience of Logic instrument dealing with B-2-B (Business to Business) offering itemized products in terms of software and hardware.
3- Financial Position:
Despite the anticipated decrease in sales in 2013, the company has a strong financial position. In fact, the company's debt was reduced from 16.5 million EUR in 2011 to 8 million EUR in 2012 and is expected to decrease more in 2013, leading to better financial and solvency ratios.