1802 COSMAC FLEA

G'day, Mates –

Things are going gangbusters Down Under. In fact, things have been going so well that we thought it was time to create a new website beyond our old free website location to our new domain name, COSMACFLEA.COM, to market our wares. We also opened up a new warehouse with offices and a production facility, and hired new personnel, including a couple of electronic technicians and programmers. The better to serve our loyal, ever-growing customer base, and expand our product base. The last two years have been a whirlwind.

This is not only due to our great success in marketing and sales revenue, but also a new deal that is in the works. It's all good news on top of good news.

We have now surpassed 1,000 subscriptions for our online Virtual COSMAC FLEA, including individuals in over two dozen countries, and school systems spread across over 500 schools in 7 countries. We are also approaching 1,000 sales of our 1802 COSMAC FLEA microcomputer trainer. As a promotion, we will be giving the next 20 units away for FREE after we meet the 1,000 unit goal. And our other products are selling similarly. This is what happens when you offer high-quality products at affordable prices and support them. (and wait for what special prizes and offers we have when each reaches 1,802 sales!)

And now, for the really BIG news. Whilst all of this is happening, we have been working on a special deal with the country of China. They are very interested in our 1802 COSMAC FLEA for their school system, which is fairly massive. We have signed all the paperwork and it is happening. And when we say 'massive', we MEAN MASSIVE. The order is for 100,000 units. It does sound like a lot, and it is, but they have a very large population, and many students in equivalent middle and high school, so in that sense, it is understandable why they need so many units. And that is only the first order. If all goes well, as we think it will, there could be orders totalling up to 10 times that many. Keep your fingers crossed for us. It is part of their version of STEM programs. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

The problem we are now facing is that this all requires some logistical problems to be solved. The most important one of which is that there are not one hundred thousand 1802 microprocessor chips on planet Earth. So we are working with a Chinese electronics manufacturing company who already has ties to Intersil to re-produce the CDP1802. This is good news for all 1802 hobbyists, because the chips will now be readily available at very affordable prices. (yes, customers will eventually see the savings reflected in product prices)

And the good news on top of that is that, whilst we are re-producing the 1802, we are also going to re-produce the rarer than hens' teeth, Unobtainium CDP1861 Pixie display chip, and the other CDP18XX display and sound chips, so now those will also be available again. Also at very affordable prices. Expect new products to be available soon that will use these new-old chips. (no more pseudo-1861s) So the good news keeps getting better.

Obviously, we are contracting with a Translation Service to translate all of our products and materials into the Mandarin language. This project will take approximately two years.

And, whilst we're at it, we are translating into a few other languages, as well (Spanish, Russian, French, ...), as our march out of Australia around the world continues to expand. That this has all happened in less than two years is more than amazing.

So, thank you all again for your valuable, continuing and much-appreciated support. The future looks very bright for all of us. Stay tuned for more information as it arrives and we can share with you.

— Tazz Hellnick
CEO & CTO