Tiger Telematics · 2005–2006 · ~25,000
A GPS-equipped handheld run by Swedish executives with undisclosed criminal connections that sold 25,000 units at $400 before collapsing spectacularly amid a Ferrari crash scandal.
Tiger Telematics launched the Gizmondo with ambitious features: GPS, camera, GPRS connectivity, and a planned location-based advertising model that would reduce the unit price for ad-tolerant users. The system had almost no games at launch, a high price point, and poor distribution. Its Swedish backers — later revealed to have organised crime connections — spent company money on luxury cars and London parties. Stefan Eriksson, a company director, crashed a Ferrari Enzo at an estimated 162mph on a California highway in February 2006, claiming a non-existent "co-driver" named Dietrich was responsible; he was arrested that April. Gizmondo Europe had gone into liquidation that same month.