As companies struggled to sell their standalone Blu-ray players in 2008, it seems 2009 might be the year we see low-priced players -- but not from the companies you may be thinking about.
The Chinese Economic Daily News indicates "white-box vendors" -- little known brands based in China -- will begin to offer $150 Blu-ray players sometime this year. Sony, Samsung, Pioneer and higher-end companies will keep their prices slightly higher, but must also drop prices if they expect sales to continue.
Also mentioned in the article, Lite-On announced it will offer a Blu-ray player at the $150 price point as well.
Assuming Economic Daily News is accurately predicting Lite-On and unknown Chinese vendors will offer $150 Blu-ray players, then it is very possible that we will see players available for the 2009 holiday shopping season dipping below $100.
Most standalone players sold in the United States have a suggested retail of $299, but stores and web sites offer sales and discounts that can see prices drop to $249 or less.
Analysts predicted that the cost of Blu-ray players must decrease further before consumers will be convinced to replace their DVD players. As many as five million Blu-ray players were sold in 2008, and the number is estimated to jump up to 11 million units in 2009, but only if prices drop, Topology Research Institute said.
