HARMAN Selects Brightstar For Exclusive Distribution Of The New Harman Kardon® Onyx Studio™ Bluetooth Speaker

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MIAMI, Feb. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Brightstar Corp., today announced an agreement with HARMAN to become the exclusive distributor of the newly designed Harman Kardon Onyx Studio™ portable Bluetooth wireless speaker to mobile operators and retailers around the world.

Brightstar's agreement to offer Harman Kardon audio products will enable its customers to meet the growing demand for wireless accessories. The emergence of mobile music services is transforming mobile devices into entertainment hubs, creating demand for high fidelity audio accessories. According to NPD Group, sales of wireless speakers jumped 175 percent to $383 million in the US alone last year.ⁱ

"The mobile experience is enriched by innovative audio products like the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio portable speaker that allow consumers to unlock the audio/music capabilities of their smartphones," said Javier Villamizar, president Global Distribution Brightstar Corp. "Our exclusive arrangement with HARMAN reflects the strength and breadth of our global distribution and logistics capability, and our proven ability to enable our customers to offer the latest mobile innovations at the moment of purchase."

The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio™ delivers room-sized sound from any compatible hand-held device, by connecting wirelessly to any Bluetooth® enabled mobile phone or similar hand-held device. The new speaker features a rechargeable lithium ion battery that allows up to five hours of playing time, providing music playing anywhere without the need of external power. 

"Brightstar's global infrastructure, deep wireless experience and strong channel relationships makes it an optimal partner as we expand the global reach of HARMAN Lifestyle products and the Harman Kardon brand," said Dinesh Paliwal, Chairman, President, and CEO – HARMAN. 

For further information and specifications about the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio™ please visit www.harmankardon.com/onyxstudio

Brightstar will begin shipments of the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio™ Bluetooth portable speaker in February 2014.  Brightstar will also enable promotional bundling with mobile devices and operator service plans.

About Brightstar
Brightstar is the world's largest specialized wireless distributor and a leading provider of diversified services focused on enhancing the performance and results of the key participants in the wireless device value chain: manufacturers, operators and retailers. For more information, please visit http://www.brightstarcorp.com.

About Harman
HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of 14,800 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.7 billion for the last twelve months ended December 31, 2013.  The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbolNYSE:HAR.

ⁱSource: "Retailer Share of Cell Phone Accessory Sales." NPD Group, Inc., Nov.2013

SOURCE Brightstar Corp.