TrekStor

TrekStor GmbH & Co. KG is a German enterprise specializing in the production of portable storage solutions, audio equipment, and tablet devices. Established in 2001 and based in Bensheim, Germany, the company is well-known for its range of MP3 players, external hard drives, tablets, and USB flash memory products. It holds a significant position within Germany's digital media player market.

The company's prominent product lines feature brands such as DataStation, MovieStation, vibez, and i.Beat. Although TrekStor encountered a short-lived dispute in 2007 regarding the name of its i.Beat blaxx MP3 player, it successfully preserved its market presence. In July 2009, the firm filed for insolvency but was able to sustain operations following an investment from Telefield International Holdings Limited. By 2010, TrekStor broadened its portfolio to include eBook readers and launched a proprietary tablet series.

History

TrekStor was founded in 2001 by Daniel Szmigiel in Lorsch, Germany, initially concentrating on USB drives equipped with biometric security. By 2003, the company had expanded its offerings to include MP3 players and portable external hard drives. The headquarters were moved to Bensheim by 2016, consolidating sales, development, and quality control functions while primarily outsourcing manufacturing to Asia. The firm reported revenues of €145 million in 2005 and just over €135 million in 2007.

Following two years marked by financial decline, TrekStor filed for insolvency in July 2009. A restructuring process supported by Telefield International resulted in the creation of Trekstor GmbH later that year, which took over the original company's assets and personnel.

By late 2010, TrekStor had diversified into e-book readers and mobile communications devices such as UMTS WLAN hotspots and Android smartphones developed in collaboration with Huawei. Starting from 2012, the company continued advancing electronic ink e-readers distributed via the German Publishers and Booksellers Association and expanded its tablet offerings.

In 2013, the Volks tablet series was introduced through a partnership with Bild.de, with subsequent models featuring Android and Windows 8.1 with Bing operating systems. According to its financial disclosures from 2016, TrekStor produced the Porsche Design Book One in 2017. By 2019, full ownership reverted to the Szmigiel family as the company ventured into the street-legal electric scooter market.

On May 30, 2022, TrekStor GmbH changed its name to TS-Service GmbH but proceeded to file for insolvency on October 1, 2022.

Controversy

In August 2007, TrekStor attracted criticism due to the name of a black MP3 player within the i.Beat product line originally called "i.Beat blaxx," which sounded similar to a racially offensive phrase. After receiving negative attention including coverage on Gizmodo, the company swiftly renamed the device "Trekstor blaxx."