20:20 seals deal with Benefon

Bate said: We will launch a prosumer device this quarter and consumer and mass-market devices next year. By next Christmas we hope to be much more visible in the consumer space. A new brand that will represent us as a navigation company will also launch in the next couple of weeks.

The distribution agreement between 20:20 and Benefon will see 20:20 provide warehousing and logistics inventory management and next-day delivery of Benefon products to operators retail outlets and large corporate users throughout the UK and Ireland.

20:20 managing director Rod Millar said: We have been working with Benefon for the past 12 months and have generated significant interest from operators retailers and corporate users. We expect to distribute more than 200000 units in the first year.

Benefon chairman Brian Katzen said: Our initial strategy called for aggressive penetration into the UK and China and thereafter mainland Europe and the US so we are on track.