BridgeCo Digital Media Player Platform Achieves DLNA Certification; Processor IC and Middleware Reference Design Aces Home Network Interoperability Test.

LAS VEGAS -- BridgeCo (www.bridgeco.net), a leading provider of digital home entertainment networking solutions, announced today that Bridgeco's Digital Media Player (DMP) reference design is now a DLNA(TM) CERTIFIED Audio Player. The Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) is an industry group representing more than 250 companies worldwide that have developed extensive home networking interoperability guidelines for personal computers (PC) and consumer electronics (CE) products. Consumers who buy DLNA CERTIFIED PC and CE products can be assured that their purchases will be able to share digital content with each other.

BridgeCo, a charter member of the DLNA, is one of the first companies to achieve DLNA Certification. The company's audio DMP reference design transforms consumer audio systems into nodes on a wireless home network. With a DMP attached to a home stereo, consumers can wirelessly access and play songs stored on the Internet or on a computer hard drive -- even if the computer or Internet access point is in another room of the home. OEM products based on BridgeCo's DMP processor and middleware platform are available for under US$99.

"DLNA Certification assures us that the platform we are using has proven interoperability," explained Philips Business Line Connectivity & Network Accessories General Manager, Paul Pessers. "BridgeCo has been developing their digital media player hardware architecture and associated firmware stack for several years. Consequently, they offer a very stable and mature platform for our SLA5520 Wireless Music Adapter."

Leading Companies Support DLNA

The DLNA has more than 250 participating member companies, including Intel, Microsoft, Sony, Nokia, NEC, Thomson, Panasonic, and many other leading PC and CE manufacturers. The Alliance has developed a comprehensive interoperability framework for transparent connectivity between devices; device discovery, configuration and control; interoperable media formats and streaming protocols; compatible quality-of-service mechanisms; and compatible authentication and authorization mechanisms.

To achieve DLNA certification, a product must complete rigorous testing to insure interoperability with dozens of other networked PC and CE devices. These interoperability tests have been conducted over the past nine months in a series of "plug-fests" in Europe, Asia and North America. DLNA certified products must also achieve UPnP(TM) certification (administered by the UPnP Implementers Corporation) and Wi-Fi(R) certification for wireless devices (administered by the Wi-Fi Alliance). The BridgeCo DMP reference design is one of the first systems to pass this comprehensive battery of tests.

The BridgeCo Processor and Firmware Solution

BridgeCo's DMP reference design is a complete networking solution that includes a proprietary ARM-based DSP processor, a RTOS (real-time operating system) and a proprietary application software stack. The BridgeCo processor interfaces directly to 802.11/Wi-Fi, HomePlug Powerline, IEEE1394, USB and Ethernet PHY chips, and it drives both digital and analog outputs that connect directly to any audio system. The processor/firmware combination handles TCP/IP and USB networking protocols; MP3, WMA, WMA-DRM and other audio format decompression; DTCP/IP, Windows Media Connect and many other popular digital rights management (DRM) encryption/decryption processing and authentication; and UPnP, IR and LCD control functions.

"Home networking means nothing if consumers cannot rely on a gold standard for interoperability," said BridgeCo CEO Mark McEachen. "DLNA is the most comprehensive testing regime, representing the widest array of international companies developing products for home networks. BridgeCo is proud to be one of the first companies to display the DLNA logo."

BridgeCo Demos at CES

BridgeCo will be demonstrating its DLNA CERTIFIED reference designs at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, January 5-8, 2006. The BridgeCo demo will be located at LVCC South Hall 1, booth no. 20126D.

About BridgeCo

BridgeCo, a digital entertainment networking pioneer, offers the world's most comprehensive, cost-effective and highly integrated processor and software platforms for connecting Internet media sources, computers and consumer electronics throughout the home. BridgeCo platforms are used in a wide range of innovative and legacy products produced by the multi-billion dollar global consumer electronics industry, including digital media players, audio/video adapters, DVD players, musical instruments and breakout boxes.

Underlying all BridgeCo solutions are proprietary, integrated semiconductor and software technologies that network computers and consumer devices via widely-used networking and signal processing standards and protocols, including IEEE 802.11/Wi-Fi, IEEE 1394 and UPnP. BridgeCo products are designed to be interoperable with a wide variety of consumer devices: they are DLNA Certified and compliant with Intel(R) Networked Media Product Requirements (NMPR).

BridgeCo is an ISO 9001-certified company with Headquarters in California, USA and with Operations in Zurich, Switzerland. Its key investors include Benchmark Capital, Cipio Partners (formerly Infineon Ventures), Earlybird, Fidelity Ventures, Intel Capital and Wellington Partners. For more information, please visit www.bridgeco.net.

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