Accelent Systems Enables Fast Development of AudioRamp's iRAD Internet Stereo.

Business Editors, High Tech Writers

CES 2001

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2001

Accelent Systems Inc., a leading enabler of Internet appliances, announced today at the 2001 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that its development tools and services were used by AudioRamp to develop their line of iRAD(TM) Internet stereos.

The iRAD line is the newest addition to the growing list of Internet appliance products based on Accelent's unique Integrated Development Platform and Intelligent System Software (iSyS(TM)) technology. AudioRamp's iRAD family of stereos is the first integrated product design to combine Internet streaming and downloadable audio with broadcast AM/FM as well as CD features.

The iRAD platform is based on the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) CE operating system and the Intel(R) StrongARM(R) microprocessor. Designed as a stand-alone Internet appliance, AudioRamp's iRAD-C (component version) and iRAD-S (shelf-top version) products are the first family of Internet stereo products that uniquely provide users with a full audio experience, beyond the standard AM/FM/CD stereo systems and streaming-only radios of today. By leveraging the power of the Microsoft Windows CE Operating System and the open architecture of the Internet, iRAD stereos provide the ability to access millions of online audio destinations through the unit's 56k modem, Ethernet(R) connection, or Home PNA network. These products not only provide streaming audio via the Internet but can also retrieve, store, customize, and personalize over 1000 MP3 or WMA audio files into custom play-lists. They play standard CDs or MP3-CDs and can rip (store) CDs to the unit's hard disk drive. An integrated tuner on the iRAD-S also provides access to local AM/FM stations.

"The use of Accelent's technologies allowed us to bring our product from concept to production in six months," said Dan Sheppard, president for AudioRamp. "More importantly, Accelent allows an OEM to remain focused on the development of the high value features demanded by our customers, rather than having to invest expensive engineering time developing and maintaining competency in glue logic." The glue logic Mr. Sheppard refers to is the software that enables board-level components to work with the operating system and application software.

"We estimate that we saved four months of development time by using Accelent Systems' products and services. This allowed us to meet our targets for product release and be first in the market. The iSyS software from Accelent served as the glue logic for us to integrate our application software with the hardware much more quickly than we could have done had we attempted to build both from scratch. Accelent's engineers, highly skilled in both software and hardware, also assisted us with the design of our circuit board enabling us to quickly build a prototype unit and then move quickly to a final design," added Sheppard.

According to Dr. Yung-Fu Chang, Accelent President & CEO, "We are extremely pleased with the results of the AudioRamp product development and look forward to a successful future for the exciting iRAD family of products. We strongly believe that our products and expertise are unmatched in the Internet appliance development community. It is gratifying to see this embodied in excellent, industry-leading products such as AudioRamp's new stereo."

About AudioRamp

AudioRamp, Inc., a leading provider of Intelligent Audio(TM) Products and Services focuses on providing audiophiles with dynamic access to the audio and related resources they Want, Where they want it and When they want it. Founded in 1999, the company's Intelligent Audio Products and Services include a family of Internet-Stereo players under the iRAD brand name, a secure peer-to-peer Internet Personal-Audio-Network for managing audio called iPan, and a user Personalized-Audio-Web site called My AudioRamp.com. AudioRamp's Intelligent Audio offering combine Traditional Audio resources such as AM, FM and CD, Internet Audio capabilities such as streaming, downloadable MP3 and WMA audio, together with a Web based client server capability to provide audiophiles infinite choices of additional audio, music, information, resources and e-Commerce from multiple Internet destinations through a single touch-point. For more information on the company visit their web site at www.audioramp.com or call [phone].

About Accelent Systems

Accelent Systems is uniquely positioned to provide complete software and hardware solutions for Internet appliance developers and manufacturers. The company has designed and built a set of highly refined Intelligent Systems Software (iSyS) tools that enable Microsoft Windows CE or Linux based application software to be easily integrated with portable computing platforms. These software tools are coupled with Accelent's development/reference platform hardware designs based on Intel StrongARM/XScale and other ARM-based microprocessors. Together, they provide a complete, proven solution, which enables Internet appliance product manufacturers to bring products to market in the fastest time and at the lowest possible cost.

Accelent's iSyS software is used in products such as PDAs, PDTs, web pads, and Internet audio devices, as well as other embedded systems. Today, nearly 80% of Accelent's employees are experienced embedded hardware and software engineers. The firm, which has experienced significant growth since being founded in 1997, expects to ship over one million software licenses in 2001.

Windows is a registered trademark and Windows CE are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Intel and StrongARM/XScale are trademarks of Intel Corporation. StrongARM is a registered trademark of ARM, Ltd.. iSyS is a trademark of Accelent Systems. Other brand or product names are the property of their respective owners.