Disklavier

BUENA PARK, Calif. — April 1, 2008, Yamaha Corporation of America, 
Piano Division, introduced the Disklavier Mark III control box 
upgrade for its Mark III full-function series of performance 
reproducing pianos. The upgrade offers current customers of the 
world's most advanced pianos a host of innovative technological and 
entertainment enhancements which are currently only available in the 
newest Disklavier Mark IV models.
 
The Yamaha Disklavier Mark III Control Box Upgrade is aligned with 
Yamaha's vision to let previous owners of their pianos utilize new 
features.  

The Hardware Upgrade will be available to Disklavier owners directly 
through a Yamaha's authorized dealer network. 

The upgrade involves complete removal of the Mark III control box.  
The new control box has built in features very similar to the Mark 
IV Disklaviers pianos.  This includes a hard drive, Internet 
connection, and other features.  Complete details can be found at 
Yamaha's web site www.yamaha.com.  Additionally, the piano can be 
controlled via a new wireless pocket device.  A remote control 
screen will become available at a future date.

The new Mark III control box introduces Disklavier Music Store. Like 
the Clavinova's Internet Direct Connection feature, this capability 
enables users to access the Internet directly from the Disklavier 
Mark III's pocket or tablet remote controller screens without the 
use of a computer. As with the Clavinova, an Internet connection can 
be made wirelessly or through a cable. Users simply establish an 
account over the secure server, and then may immediately download 
the songs directly to their instrument. Users may even listen to a 
song preview before purchase. An appropriate high-speed Internet 
connection is required to use this feature.

Equally exciting is the new Disklavier Radio which offers a range of 
streaming MIDI music stations for Disklavier owners to choose from, 
including pop, jazz and classical formats. This subscription service 
will stream PianoMusicSoft™ selections to Internet-connected 
Disklavier Upgraded Mark IIIs & IVs worldwide, to play 24 hours a 
day, seven days a week.

"The new Mark III control box enables us to continually improve our 
customer's experience via a new hardware device," states Jim 
Presley, Disklavier Marketing Manager.  "Although we cannot upgrade 
the physical piano hardware, by giving customers this control box 
upgrade they can utilize many new features that are only available 
today in the Mark IV series of Disklaviers", states Bill Brandom, 
National Disklavier Marketing Manager.  "We took Mark III customer's 
feedback directly to Yamaha senior management and they responded by 
putting a program in place which ultimately led to the creation of 
the new Mark III control box".

The new Disklavier Mark III control box will be available in April 
2008.

For more information write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano 
Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-
9011; or e-mail infostation@....