Kiwi firm's mouse going global

NEW TOOL: Swiftpoint's wireless mouse is set to grace shelves around the world.

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Christchurch firm Swiftpoint says its wireless mouse should soon be perched on the shelves of retailers around the world after the gadget impressed at the Consumer Electronics Show.

Chief executive Grant Odgers said the firm won an innovation award at the Las Vegas show – the world's biggest consumer technology event – and that had channelled many of the show's 140,000 visitors to its exhibit.

The optical, wireless mouse, which is gripped like a pen and can be used on surfaces such as a laptop's palm rest or couch armrest, also came out on top in a Wall Street Journal review of travel mice and was described by venture capitalist and original Apple employee Guy Kawasaki as a "cool find".

Mr Odgers said the company was now close to signing reseller deals with retailers including "some really big names with thousands of stores around the United States". It was also in talks with retailers in China, Japan and Europe, and in a few weeks would be selling through a major New Zealand retailer.

The mouse can be purchased through the Swiftpoint website and Amazon but bricks and mortar stores would be important for sales.

"Because it doesn't really look like a mouse people need to get their hands on it to understand it. We'll be setting up demonstrations in-store."

The price of the mouse had dropped in some countries – in New Zealand from $119 to $99 – as its production volumes increased, he said.

The mice were made in Thailand, so the company's operations had been relatively unscathed by last month's Christchurch earthquake.

Its office on the fringe of the CBD appeared to be OK and Swiftpoint might let other businesses left homeless use it, Mr Odgers said.

"We've been able to carry on remotely and use modern technology to have a virtual office."

The company planned to develop other "mouse-related" products, but not necessarily for laptops.

- © Fairfax NZ News