CoCom Again Selects FOCUS for Internet Set-Top Box; 'Netmine' Set-Top Box To Run On Windows and Linux Operating Systems.Business/Technology Editors WILMINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 24, 2000 FOCUS Enhancements, Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on : FCSE FCSE Frequency Control Symposium and Exhibition ), announced today that CoCom International, Ltd., is launching an Internet set-top box The cable TV box that sits on "top" of the TV "set," although it is often located several feet away in an equipment rack. The set-top box descrambles the premium channels and provides a tuner for the higher cable numbers that very old TVs did not support. utilizing FOCUS' FS450 as its TV display technology. CoCom, having already selected Focus for their information appliance See Internet appliance. (hardware) Information Appliance - (IA) A consumer device that performs only a few targeted tasks and is controlled by a simple touch-screen interface or push buttons on the device's enclosure. , has now chosen FOCUS for their Internet set-top box design called Netmine(TM). Netmine is a truly innovative set-top box developed by CoCom, utilizing National Semiconductor's Geode(TM) GXLV and FOCUS' FS450 technologies. Netmine runs on both Windows and Linux operating systems Operating systems can be categorized by technology, ownership, licensing, working state, usage, and by many other characteristics. In practice, many of these groupings may overlap. . In addition, Netmine operates on both PAL and NTSC (National TV Standards Committee) The committee that developed the television standards for the U.S, which are also used in Canada, Japan, South Korea and several Central and South American countries. Both the committee and the standard are called "NTSC. formats providing the opportunity for this set-top box to operate both in the U.S. and internationally. CoCom's Managing Director, Julien Snell states, "CoCom is especially excited about the opportunity to be introducing and manufacturing `FOCUS enhanced' Internet set-top boxes, because in an Internet set-top box, the only display device is a television. Therefore, high video quality is imperative." Snell continued, "The FOCUS i-Net TV FS450 is by far the best TV convergence technology we have seen from anyone! We're convinced our new family of Internet set-top boxes will display web pages with better quality on a TV than any competitive set-top box we have seen." Netmine's platform is based on the National Semiconductor Geode(TM) GXLV processor. National Semiconductor, with whom FOCUS also has important strategic alliances, is considered the leader in low-cost Internet set-top box reference designs. Bill Schillhammer, Vice President of OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) The rebranding of equipment and selling it. The term initially referred to the company that made the products (the "original" manufacturer), but eventually became widely used to refer to the organization that buys the products and Sales at FOCUS, says, "CoCom's early adoption of the FS450 i-Net TV interface video processor has allowed them to be the first OEM in the world with a National Semiconductor Geode-based internet set-top box ready for production. Considering the timing, CoCom can do very well with this business, both under CoCom's label and as a provider of private-label set-top boxes for the worldwide market." CoCom International Ltd. is a worldwide leader in design and manufacture of distributed control systems. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use; each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of computing in every day life. Founded in 1994, CoCom International Ltd. has offices in West Sussex West Sussex, nonmetropolitan county (1991 pop. 692,800), 768 sq mi (1,990 sq km), S England. A chalk ridge runs from the county's east to west edge. In the south the land flattens into a gentle plain. After early Roman invasions, the Saxons moved across Sussex. , UK, Seattle, USA and Dietenhofen, Germany. FOCUS Enhancements' patented FS450 ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) Pronounced "a-sick." A chip that is custom designed for a specific application rather than a general-purpose chip such as a microprocessor. is targeted at the Internet set-top box, PC, Cable/DVD Player set-top box, Web Appliance, Information Appliance, and Video Kiosk manufacturer. FOCUS Enhancements, Inc. is an industry leader in the development and marketing of advanced, proprietary video conversion ASICs for the rapidly converging, multi-billion dollar Internet, computer, and television industries. The Company's technology, which is sold globally through Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and resellers, merges computer-generated graphics and television displays for Internet viewing, presentations, training, education, video teleconferencing, and home gaming markets. For More Information CoCom International Ltd, +44 (0) 1444 461600, Grove Place, Cuckfield Lane, Warninglid West Sussex RH17 5SN, www.cocom.co.uk CoCom America Inc, (206) 427-3836, 558 First Avenue South No. 2, Seattle, Washington 98104, www.cocomamerica.com FOCUS Enhancements, (978) 988-5888, 600 Research Drive, Wilmington, Mass. 01887, www.focusinfo.com Investors: Please contact Steve Sheldon, FOCUS Enhancements: (978) 988-5888, e-mail: ssheldon@focusinfo.com. Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. " provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995. The statements contained in this release which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, continued acceptance of the Company's products, increased levels of competition for the Company; new products and technological changes, the Company's dependence upon third-party suppliers, intellectual property rights and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained herein, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward- looking statements that may be made to reflect events after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. In addition, the forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to risks and uncertainties, including fluctuations in operating results, the timely development and acceptance of new products, product availability from suppliers, the impact of competitive products and pricing, changing TV standards and other risks set forth under the caption "Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results" in Focus' Annual Report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. for the year ended December 31,1998, in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q Form 10-Q See 10-Q. for the quarters ended March 31,1999 and June 30,1999, and other filings with the SEC. |
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