Independent Dealers Rank Panasonic Fax Products Number One In Annual Survey

Independent dealers once again recognize the fax pioneer for the strongest line of facsimile products on the market.

SECAUCUS, NJ – SECAUCUS, NJ — Panasonic's stellar array of fax products continues to be rated tops in the industry by a majority of independent dealers who responded to the annual dealer survey conducted by Marketing Research Consultants, Inc.

More than 300 dealers participated in the survey. When asked, "Who has the strongest fax line in the industry?" a majority of respondents chose Panasonic. This marks the eighth year out of the last nine that Panasonic has taken top fax honors in the survey.

Panasonic has more than 50 years of experience developing and manufacturing fax products. Three years ago, the company was named Fax Manufacturer of the Decade by The Cannata Report, based on the publication's annual survey. And last year, the Associated Press hailed Panasonic as "the leading provider of Internet fax machines."

According to Frank Cannata, editor of The Cannata Report, this latest rating is particularly impressive given that a substantial number of the respondents who chose Panasonic as the number-one fax manufacturer aren't even Panasonic dealers.

"The reputation and respect that Panasonic fax products have earned over the years isn't limited to Panasonic dealers," Cannata said. "It is shared by dealers throughout the industry, regardless of manufacturer affiliation."

Cannata identified the broad range of Panasonic's fax products as an important strength in today's market. "Panasonic technology spans everything from standard fax products to multifunction products (MFP) with fax capability," he said.

Paul Wharton, Panasonic Digital Document Company's manager of product marketing, Copiers/Fax/MFP products, echoed Cannata's assessment. "Panasonic manufactures units that range from five-page fax machines to 60-page per minute fax-enabled MFPs," he said.

Wharton attributed Panasonic's leadership role in standardizing information and communication technology to the substantial resources dedicated to research and development by Panasonic's parent company, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

"Last year, Matsushita spent approximately $4.6 billion in research and development for new products and technologies," Wharton said. He added that the company continues to invest in the fax market, with exciting new products in development.

Emphasizing Panasonic's technology, Wharton said the company was one of the first manufacturers to commercialize scan-to-email technology, and has virtually led the way in the development of Internet fax, which is an even more capable vehicle than mere scan-to-email.

"With so many fax products on the market, consumers are faced with a tremendous number of choices," Wharton said. "But Panasonic's edge in R&D makes the choice an easy one. It just doesn't make sense to buy fax products from any other manufacturer."

Panasonic's award-winning fax line consists of the UF-490, UF-790, UF-890, UF-990, DX-800 and DX-2000 fax devices; and the DP-150FX, DP-1810F, DP-2310, DP-3010, DP- 3510, DP-4510 and DP-6010 fax-capable MFPs.

Panasonic continues to amass industry awards for its fax products. These include top honors in the 2003 BERTL's Best Awards. BERTL (Business Equipment Research and Test Laboratories Ltd.), an independent testing organization, presented their Fax Range of the Year award to Panasonic for a well-designed range of fax products which encompass a tremendous variety of features, functions, and price points. The award is based on the testing facility's rigorous independent analysis of 300 digital imaging devices, including fax products, which took place over a 12-month period.

The Cannata Report, a monthly management report published for office equipment dealers by Marketing Research Consultants, Inc., has published the survey of independent dealers for the past 18 years.

In the United States, Panasonic Digital Document Company, a unit of Matsushita Electric Corporation of America, markets a broad line of digital imaging systems, computer peripherals and office system products designed specifically for business use. Products available include fax and Internet fax machines, digital copiers, network multifunction devices, document management systems, scanners, electronic whiteboards, color and monochrome laser printers, impact printers and DVD drives. Headquartered in Secaucus, NJ, Matsushita Electric Corporation of America is the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC) of Osaka, Japan.