Centennial Technologies selects Sigma Designs' Zoomed Video chip set for new MPEG card for notebook computers; design win underscores Sigma's leadership in MPEG market.

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 21, 1996--Sigma Designs Inc. (NASDAQ:SIGM) today announced that its Explorer chip set was selected by Centennial Technologies Inc. (AMEX:CTN), an industry-leading supplier of PC Card products, to manufacture full-featured MPEG PC Cards designed for use with new ZV (Zoomed Video) featured notebook computers.

Centennial Technologies is incorporating Sigma Designs' REALmagic Explorer chip set in a Type II PCMCIA Card to provide MPEG-1 digital video playback.

With the new cards, users will be able to take full advantage of the new ZV Port, a new PC Card standard that allows PC notebook computers to deliver full screen broadcast quality motion-video and CD quality audio. This will greatly increase the video and audio quality of multimedia presentations available to the business traveler for all business applications developed with MPEG, including interactive training, education, kiosks and presentations, to be run on the ZV Port notebooks without compatibility issues. There are currently more than a thousand REALmagic-compatible MPEG business applications.

"Sigma's REALmagic Zoomed Video chip set incorporated into our TrueView card moves Centennial into one of the newest multimedia areas today," said Jack McDonald, president of Centennial Technologies. "Sigma is well known in the industry as a leader in MPEG technology and for meeting customer needs with exceptional expertise. The quality of Sigma's chip-set and software enables us to provide notebook users with a complete MPEG playback solution."

"Centennial's selection of our chip set is an important step in establishing a standard for Zoomed Video solutions. TrueView card provides mobile computer users with optimal performance for presentations, training, and Internet information retrieval," said Prem Talreja, vice president of marketing of Sigma Designs. "With the growing number of notebook computer users, full motion MPEG video at full screen is a capability that is increasing in demand as people realize the possibilities."

Sigma Designs' REALmagic Explorer chip set delivers MPEG digital video in the new ZV Port PC Cards for notebook computers. All cards developed with the REALmagic Explorer chip set are fully Open MPEG-1 (OM-1), REALmagic, Windows 95 compatible and permit ZV Port capable notebook PCs to comply with the new MPC3 standards for multimedia systems. The chip set is in full production and is shipping in volume to a number of PC card makers.

Centennial Technologies Inc. designs, manufactures and markets innovative, quality-built PCMCIA PC Cards and solutions for use in portable computers and industrial applications. These products enhance the utility of portable computers and electronic equipment by adding memory, storage, data/fax capabilities, emulation, multimedia, security, data acquisition, global positioning and more. Centennial Technologies can be reached at 508/670-0646.

Founded in 1982, Sigma Designs has been a driving force behind the advancement of the MPEG technology used in the multimedia PCs on the market today.

The company's products include affordable MPEG chip-sets, 2D/3D graphics chips and the industry's richest line of MPEG software titles. All Sigma Designs products are sold worldwide through a direct sales force, representatives and distributors. For more information, call 510/770-0100, fax [phone], or visit the company's Web site at http://www.sigmadesigns.com.

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