Bay Area-Based Hannspree Launches New Category of Design-Driven Televisions, Opens Flagship Store in San Francisco; Suddenly Other TVs Seem So Square.

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Oct. 29 opening celebration of Hannspree California Inc.'s flagship retail gallery in San Francisco marked the Bay Area's first official opportunity to experience a revolutionary array of design-driven, lifestyle-inspired television sets.

Hannspree founder and chairman Y.C. Chiao ceremoniously opened the store at the corner of Sutter and Stockton streets in Union Square. To celebrate the store's grand opening, National Basketball Association stars Derek Fisher and Jason Richardson and San Francisco Giant pitcher Jason Schmidt signed free autographs for Bay Area residents and tourists visiting Hannspree's store.

"We're proud to open our flagship store in San Francisco, a major Pacific Rim business center that is a hub of culture and technology," said Neil Yang, general manager of Hannspree's U.S. operations based in Fremont. "We look forward to introducing Bay Area residents and Union Square visitors to a completely new, fun way of enjoying their television viewing."

With a range of more than 100 models featuring breathtaking concepts, unique shapes and high-quality materials, from wood veneer to cuddly fur, Hannspree draws upon contemporary interior design trends and individual passions to create televisions that uniquely accent any room and give expression to any taste or lifestyle.

Every Bay Area television viewer will find a Hannspree TV that matches their lifestyle, decor and passions. Fans of the Golden State Warriors, Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants will go crazy for a Sports line that includes team-branded products that look like - and are made from the same materials as - basketballs, backboards and MLB baseballs. Every MLB and NBA team has given their colors and logo to a Hannspree television. Hannspree also integrates other popular sports of the modern era - soccer, diving, and golf - into its designs, ensuring strong appeal to sports fans.

Hannspree's Fantasy line will enrapture kids with incredibly detailed trains and fire trucks, a menagerie of adorable animals made from child-friendly fabrics, and televisions that pay homage to iconic Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse and Cinderella.

And for those who want a TV that complements their interior design aesthetic, Hannspree's Style range features elegant lines, vibrant colors and a variety of premium finishes, from polished wood to titanium.

Every Hannspree TV employs a flat-screen Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) that delivers brilliant, accurate color reproduction and exceptional clarity and contrast. The company's widescreen TVs (screens of 23" and larger) are HDTV-compatible.

"With the advent of flat screen technology, we recognize a momentous opportunity to offer consumers TVs that are an expression of their personality, style and interests," said Y.C. Chiao, founder and chairman, Hannspree. "Our flagship retail gallery in San Francisco gives us a prestigious, elegant environment in which to showcase our vision through a full range of television sets."

Availability and Pricing

Hannspree's 9,500 sq. ft. San Francisco store is located at 400 Sutter St. Hannspree televisions are also available from a Hannspree-owned and operated retail showcase in Beverly Hills. Products will be available for purchase online at www.hannspree-usa.com in November. The company is also in negotiations with leading national and regional retailers and expects to announce details of additional distribution agreements in the coming months. Hannspree televisions retail from $349.99 to $1,099.99 M.S.R.P.

About Hannspree

Hannspree was founded in 2003 to shake-up the consumer electronics industry with a bold new approach to television design and manufacturing. Applying state-of-the-art engineering techniques to visionary design concepts, Hannspree is responsible for creating an entirely new category of design-driven, lifestyle-inspired televisions. The company, which employs 900 people worldwide, is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. Hannspree's U.S. headquarters is located in Fremont, Calif. and it maintains a U.S. sales and marketing office in New Jersey. With approximately $170 million in investment capital and the backing of display technology pioneer HannStar, which has a 20 percent stake in the company, Hannspree is executing an aggressive 2005 business plan for the United States, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Japan, Europe, and Australia.