Gigaset DECT Repeater 2.0 awarded HTV-Life® mark of excel-lence

Munich, April 18, 2016 - Planned obsolescence, where a manufacturer deliberately reduces a product’s useful life without disclosing the fact, is more than ever an issue of concern to consumers, since such conduct not only hits customers in the pocket, but also represents a significant burden on the environment. With its premium products “Made in Germany,” Gigaset has taken a clear stance against planned obsolescence and also has this certified by an external body. The Gigaset DECT Repeater 2.0 has now succeeded in gaining the HTV-Life® mark of excellence.

Study by the German Federal Environment Agency proves products too short useful life
Although an accompanying study commissioned by the German Federal Environment Agency could not prove that manufacturers deliberately planned obsolescence into their products, the President of the Federal Environment Agency, Maria Krautzberger, nevertheless criticizes the fact that “many appliances have too short a useful life” and also points to the “[…] lack of transparency for consumers.”

Despite plain words from the authorities, only few manufacturers have adopted a policy of having their products certified externally. Gigaset is committed to a different approach and for almost two years has worked with HTV-GmbH, which will successively certify its entire product portfolio. As a result, Gigaset is one of the world’s first manufacturers to take this step and has already been awarded the HTV-Life® mark of excellence for the A400, E310, E550, E630, C430, C620, S850 and SL400 product families. The Gigaset DECT Repeater 2.0 has now also succeeded in gaining certifi-cation.

“Planned obsolescence is an absolute no-go for Gigaset,” says Raphael Dörr, press spokesperson for Gigaset AG. “Our Customer Service department regularly receives requests to repair products such as the Gigaset 1000 or Gigaset 2000. These devices are an average of 15 to 20 years old. There can hardly be any clearer evidence of the our products’ durability. By having our latest products certified externally by HTV-GmbH, we are taking a further proactive step toward certi-fied quality and durability.”

HTV-Life® mark of excellence for Gigaset DECT Repeater 2.0
The Gigaset DECT Repeater 2.0 increases the range of DECT/GAP cordless phones. The Gigaset DECT Repeater 2.0 is a sort of transmitting station that is placed at the maximum distance from a Gigaset base station and so doubles the freedom of movement in the house or garden (from 60 to 120 meters in buildings and from 300 to 600 meters outdoors). Calls can be taken and internal and external calls made within the extended wireless range. Coverage can be further optimized by using up to six Gigaset DECT Repeater 2.0 in the vicinity of the base station.

The Gigaset DECT Repeater 2.0 is on sale in the color “black” at a RRP of €149.99. The Gigaset DECT Repeater 2.0 and all other Gigaset products can also be obtained directly from the official Gigaset e-shop.

About HTV-GmbH
Founded in 1986, HTV is an independent test house which carries out electronic, mechanical and chemical analyses and assesses the service life of products. The company currently has around 220 employees. HTV's expertise is highly sought in studies, such as by federal offices, as well as for expert reports or qualifications. As a specialist in long-term conservation of components, HTV has very great competence in testing and analyzing mechanisms that cause products to age or fail and in determining the useful life of components. More information on the HTV mark of excellence can be found on the official Gigaset homepage. You can go there directly by clicking on this link.

What is planned obsolescence?
Basically, planned obsolescence denotes part of a deliberate product strategy in which weaknesses are built into a product, solutions with a shorter durability are developed, raw materials of lower quality are used or no spare parts are offered. All of that means a product becomes faulty or de-fective sooner than necessary and so cannot be used to the full extent. Planned obsolescence is thus closely linked to today’s throw-away society, in which products are no longer repaired, but discarded and replaced by new ones.

Press Contact:
Raphael Dörr
Press Spokesman Gigaset AG
Phone: +49 (0)89 444 456 866
Email: info.presse@gigaset.com

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