Array Microsystems Delivers First All-in-One Personal Video Communications Solution to the PC Market.

LOS GATOS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 1996--Array Microsystems Inc., a supplier of semiconductor devices for advanced PC video compression solutions, today announced the delivery of its Personal Video Communications (PVC) solution to customers in the PC market.

The PVC reference design is the first, turnkey, desktop video solution to enable multiple applications such as video e-mail, video-conferencing, Internet video production and broadcast, video editing and authoring, and CD-ROM recording and playback -- all in one single, affordable, PCI add-in card.

The company, along with strategic partners Acer Sertek, Zoltrix, Omnivision Technologies and Vosaic, will demonstrate the product's multiple applications at the COMDEX/Fall '96 trade show next week.

"We share Array's vision of personal video communications and are very excited about utilizing their technology to develop a family of new products that may include PC-based 'digital VCRs' with video conferencing capability and advanced video surveillance systems," said Gary Twu, associate VP of Acer PM and the multimedia division of Acer Sertek.

"PVC is the first design that meets the price and performance standards required to offer a quality product."

Acer Sertek, the largest high technology sales and service company in Taiwan, manufacturers a variety multimedia products including MPEG video cards, sound cards, Video CD players and multimedia upgrade kits.

In what may be the most compelling demonstration of the PVC reference design at Comdex, Zoltrix has implemented Array's technology into a multi-function add-in card with a particular emphasis on video-conferencing.

Andrew Ma, general manager of Zoltrix stated, "In addition to the numerous video compression functions of the PVC reference design, it contains a powerful video-conferencing capability that allows users to conduct multi-point video-conferences while simultaneously executing document sharing and other collaborative work tools."

He added, "While the consumer market for video-conferencing is just beginning to emerge, Array's PVC sets a price and performance standard that will enable us to offer an extremely competitive solution."

Zoltrix is a subsidiary of 3D Micro, one of the largest manufacturers of motherboards in the world shipping more than 10 million motherboards last year.

Omnivision Technologies, a leading supplier of video camera products, will demonstrate the extensive video-conferencing and video e-mail capabilities of the PVC reference design.

"In addition to providing high-quality video-conferencing, the PVC reference design enables a very new and exciting application for our video cameras -- video e-mail," said Victor Hsia, VP of sales and marketing.

"Now, by using PVC, users can attach video clips or still images to e-mail messages and send them anywhere around the world. This combination of Omnivision's low-cost cameras, together with Array's PVC, adds an exciting new dimension to e-mail."

Another powerful function of the PVC reference design is its scalable bit rate which enables, among other applications, streaming video over the Internet. Vosaic, a leading developer of Internet/Intranet technologies, utilizes PVC to stream live video and audio over TCP/IP-based networks.

Stuart Johnstone, president of Vosaic, said, "The key to streaming video is the ability to scale down the bit rate small enough to travel across limited-bandwidth networks. Array Microsystems achieves this with the PVC reference design -- the most flexible and cost-effective solution on the market today."

Personal Video Communications

The concept of personal video communications recognizes the growing consumer demand for easy-to-use, yet comprehensive, desktop video applications. Until now, users purchased expensive add-in cards for each desired application.

However, high cost and complex installation has stemmed the growth of the market which has, in turn, forced PC OEMs to delay the availability of desktop video applications. The PVC reference design addresses these problems by combining multiple, high-quality desktop video applications onto a single add-in card.

Finally, the company has achieved a price point that allows PC OEMs and add-in card manufacturers to develop affordable products for consumers.

At the core of the PVC reference design is Array's VIDEOFLOW(R) chip set that is capable of real-time, 30 frames-per-second MPEG-1 IBP encoding and decoding at SIF resolution. It also provides I-frame and motion-JPEG capture up to SIF resolution, and JPEG capture up to CCIR-601 resolution.

One of the most powerful features of the PVC reference design is its ability to perform H.320/H.324/H/323 video-conferencing. Also, with scalable bit rate control, it is the only design that is able to support various network speeds including V.34, ISDN, ADSL and cable modems.

"Until now, the PC market's search for a multi-function, low-cost multimedia solution has been fraught with products providing a limited number of applications with substandard video quality," said Roger Westberg, vice president of marketing at Array Microsystems.

"The PVC reference design provides full-speed, high-quality video for a broad range of desktop video applications at the lowest cost in the industry. We look forward to working with these and other strategic partners to develop PVC-based products for the PC consumer marketplace."

Array Microsystems will demonstrate the PVC reference at its booth, L1, in the Microsoft Partners Pavilion. The company will also provide product demonstrations at its suite located in the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel.

To schedule a demonstration, contact Kelly Dorlarque, marketing communications manager at Array Microsystems at 408/399-1505.

About Array Microsystems

Array Microsystems is a supplier of advanced desktop video compression chips for the PC and related markets. Array is a privately held company based in Los Gatos, Calif., with R&D and manufacturing facilities located in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Its strategic partnership with Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., one of the leading producers of IC products in the world, has resulted in a number of joint-development ventures related to the design of Array's industry-leading VIDEOFLOW(R) chip set. Samsung also provides silicon foundry capabilities to Array Microsystems for manufacture of its VIDEOFLOW chips.

For more information, please contact Array Microsystems at 987 University Ave., Los Gatos, Calif., 95030. Telephone: [phone]. Fax: [phone]. Internet: http://www.array.com

CONTACT: Array Microsystems, Inc.

Roger Westberg, 408/399-1505 ext. 31

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Pacifico, Inc.

Matt Bell, 408/293-8600 ext. 309

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