Com21 Licenses DVB Technology From Philips; First DVB Headend Products Expected Q4.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers DELFT Delft (dĕlft), city (1994 pop. 91,941), South Holland prov., W Netherlands. It has varied industries and is noted for its ceramics (china, tiles, and pottery) known as delftware. Founded in the 11th cent. , The Netherlands--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 3, 2000 Com21, Inc., a leading global provider of system solutions for the broadband access See broadband and wireless broadband. market, announced today an exclusive deal to license specific DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) An international digital television (DTV) standard that is the European and Far Eastern counterpart of the North American ATSC standard. (Digital Video Broadcasting) INA Ina (ē`nä), city (1990 pop. 60,062), Nagano prefecture, central Honshu, Japan, on the Tenryu River. It is an agricultural and industrial center with a famous agricultural school. (Interactive Network Adapter A printed circuit board that plugs into the bus of both user machines (clients) and servers in a local area network (LAN). Also commonly called a "network interface card" (NIC) or "LAN card," the network adapter transmits data onto the network and receives data from the network. ) technologies from Philips Research, part of Royal Philips Electronics, Europe's largest consumer electronics company and a major supplier of Digital TV solutions. Availability of the Com21 DVB headend solution will enable European cable operators to deliver high-speed Internet See broadband. access services to residences and businesses, using product based on the DVB interoperability specification approved in 1999 by the EuroModem Consortium. Com21's decision to license the Philips technology for its INA product is in direct response to urgent market demand for a DVB-based European solution. The new Com21 DVB headend is due for release in the final quarter of 2000. DVB is an initiative being driven by over 250 companies from 30 countries to define a common platform for digital transmission of video, data and telephony over both traditional hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC 1. (networking) HFC - Hybrid Fiber Coax. 2. (hardware) HFC - hydrofluorocarbon. ) broadband cable systems and also over various forms of wireless technology. The DVB standard supports the integration of cable modems and set-top boxes for cable operators, thus allowing for a common delivery platform for broadcast video, interactive video, data broadcasting, interactive data services and telephony. Dave Torr, general manager of Com21's DVB Business Unit, says: "At Com21 we are very committed to the introduction of standards-based products in a manner which complements and further enhances our broadband access solutions portfolio. We are European market leaders with our ATM-based solutions and are now in the enviable position of also being able to offer a full range of both DVB and DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) A cable modem standard from the CableLabs research consortium (www.cablelabs.com), which provides equipment certification for interoperability. products thus supporting the standards our customers require." "By licensing this advanced DVB technology we will be able to accelerate the introduction of our DVB INA headend product offering both In-Band and Out-of-Band end-to-end solutions and satisfy the cable modem, interactive set-top box and cable telephony See cable telephone. markets. This deal will present a fantastic opportunity for Com21 to establish itself as a leading global player in the DVB market." Fred Snijders, Group Leader "Broadband Communication and Video Systems" of Philips Research, added "Philips has always been a strong supporter of the DVB standard; we have chaired several consortiums and made contributions to the entire standards development process. Philips is an active member of the Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) project. This deal with Com21 will add our technical expertise and knowledge of the DVB video market to Com21's leading position in the cable modem industry, accelerating the introduction of complete DVB systems into the growing global market." Com21 is also a member of the DVB/DAVIC Consortium, which promotes and supports product interoperability between member vendors employing the DVB-RCCL/DAVIC international standards. The DVB RCCL RCCL Royal Caribbean Cruise Line committee -- which specifically establishes standards for interactivity on cable and LMDS (Local Multipoint Distribution Service) A digital wireless transmission system that works in the 28 GHz range in the U.S. and 24-40 GHz overseas. It requires line of sight between transmitter and receiving antenna, which can be from one to four miles apart (Local Multipoint Distribution Systems) -- is chaired by Com21's Director of European Standards and Technology, Mr. Jean-Charles Point. About Com21, Inc. Com21, Inc. is a leading global supplier of system solutions for the broadband access market. The Company's DOCSIS, DVB, and ATM-based products enable cable operators and service providers to deliver high-speed, cost-effective Internet and telephony applications to corporate telecommuters, small businesses, home offices, and residential users. To date, Com21 has shipped over 700,000 cable modems worldwide, along with twelve hundred headend controllers. Com21 systems offer commercial service in cable systems passing 15 million households worldwide. Com21 is an ISO (1) See ISO speed. (2) (International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland, www.iso.ch) An organization that sets international standards, founded in 1946. The U.S. member body is ANSI. 9001 registered company with over 400 employees in 14 countries. The Company's corporate headquarters is located in Milpitas, California Milpitas (IPA pronunciation: mɪlpitʌs; inhabitants are called 'Milpitans') is a city in Santa Clara County, California. It is located with San Jose to its south and Fremont to its north, at the eastern end of Highway 237 and generally between Interstate freeways 680 and , USA, with its European headquarters in Delft, The Netherlands. In addition, Com21 maintains research and development facilities in Ireland, Israel, and Maryland, as well as sales and support offices in the United States and Canada, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. For further information please visit www.com21.com About Philips and Philips Research Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is one of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of EUR EUR In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the Euro. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. 31.5 billion in 1999. It is a global leader in colour television sets, lighting, electric shavers, colour picture tubes for televisions and monitors, and one-chip TV products. Its 226,900 employees in more than 60 countries are active in the areas of lighting, consumer electronics, domestic appliances, components, semiconductors, medical systems, and IT services (Origin). Philips is quoted on the NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PHG), London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and other stock exchanges. News from Philips is located on: www.news.philips.com Philips Research, part of Royal Philips Electronics, is headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, and has laboratories at different locations in Europe, the United States, and Asia (collectively some 3,000 people). Philips Research concentrates on investigating promising options for innovations, which are turned into new or improved products of the Philips product divisions. About 0.9% of sales of Philips is spent on these corporate research activities, while total R&D efforts amount to approximately 6% of sales. More information on Philips Research on: www.research.philips.com 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. Act Clause This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the safe harbors created by those sections. This press release contains forward-looking statements related to the capabilities of Com21's DVB products. The ability to commercialise and achieve revenues depends on market acceptance and the completion of development and other risks and uncertainties concerning Com21's products and services described in Com21's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In particular, see the risk factors described in the Company's most recent Form 10K and Form 10Q. Com21 assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release. |
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