Logitech International SA (NASDAQ: LOGI) may not have become forgotten about, but the days of endless growth from endless peripherals are long gone. The move to mobile internet via smartphones and tablets has not exactly been the greatest thing for Logitech. After all, it makes all those peripherals that the new generation of tech users said their parents use for PCs — even if Logitech sells many gadgets, accessories and peripherals for video games.

Logitech has already sold keyboards that were compatible for the iPad generations for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), but the new product refresh may bring more interest to Logitech.

The first caveat for success here is that the new iPad Pro has to actually take off and be a big success, something that is not assured based upon prior iPad ramp-ups and refreshes having lost steam. The second caveat is that consumers have see and prefer this third-party keyboard from Logitech. Obviously, both caveats come with risks.

Logitech announced on Wednesday, shortly after the debut of the wave of new Apple products out in California, that it is working with Apple to leverage the new iPad Pro smart connector. The company has announced the Logitech CREATE Keyboard Case for iPad Pro. This is said to be developed closely with Apple to leverage the new Smart Connector, and it will bring to market the first ever third-party keyboard compatible with the iPad Pro Smart Connector.

The target here is to escape the need to power on, set up or charge the keyboard. Logitech’s CREATE keyboard automatically powers on and pairs with your iPad Pro when placed in the typing position, without the need to use Bluetooth pairing and without the worry of charging your keyboard again.

Logitech’s CREATE Keyboard Case for iPad Pro will be available in the U.S., and key markets in Europe and Asia at the same time the iPad Pro is available for purchase. While this could be a new source of revenue, Logitech said that additional product information and the actual pricing will be available in the coming weeks.

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Logitech’s blog announcement said:

CREATE is our best iPad keyboard. Ever. Powered by the iPad Pro via Smart Connector, it never needs charging. With a direct magnetic connection it never needs pairing. And since it’s from the keyboard experts, CREATE always provides the world-class typing experience you’ve come to expect from Logitech.

Michele Hermann, vice president of mobility at Logitech, said:

Logitech is the world leader in iPad keyboards, and we’re introducing the Logitech CREATE Keyboard Case – developed together with Apple – to enhance and perfectly compliment the iPad Pro. With a full-size keyboard designed to work with iOS 9, the Logitech CREATE will help make the iPad Pro a creativity and productivity powerhouse. Even the color and finish of the keyboard are meticulously crafted to feel and look like the other half of your iPad Pro.

As far as what to expect for pricing, the prior Logitech keyboards have been priced from $69.99 to $99.99. With this being targeted at companies and higher-end consumers, we will have to wait to see what this will generate in revenues.

Either way, you can guess at some numbers and then think about what say 1 million units could mean – or 2 million, or 3 million units. Now take a look at the images below to see the keyboard from Logitech and the keyboard featured on the Apple store website. Will Logitech win, or will another keyboard maker? And if this is going to be less than 1 million units through time, then you can look at existing revenues and see that it will not make much of a positive impact.

Then take your estimates (again, a guess) and line it up against the past and present expectations ahead. Thomson Reuters has estimates of $2.06 billion in 2015 revenue, followed by an expected $2.09 billion in 2016 revenue.

Revenues in dollars for the last four years were as follows (with the years being a March end, so we ratcheted these back one quarter for the annual periods):

• $2.114 billion in 2014;
• $2.128 billion in 2013;
• $2.099 billion in 2012;
• and $2.316 billion in 2011.

Logitech shares were up 8-cents at $13.63 in New York trading on Wednesday afternoon, with a market cap of about $2.25 billion. It has a consensus analyst price target of $17.95 and a 52-week range of $11.20 to $16.38.

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See Logitech and Apple images below.

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