M-Systems' DiskOnChip Selected as the Local Storage Device for In-Car Infotainment PC Being Developed Jointly by Bcom, ST & Ford Lio Ho.Business Editors & High-Tech Writers REPEATING SEPTEMBER 11 TRANSMISSION... FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 11, 2001 Up to 100K Units Expected be Sold Annually Throughout the World M-Systems (Nasdaq:FLSH), a leader in flash disk data storage products, today announced that its DiskOnChip(TM) flash disk product has been selected as the local data storage device in a new line of in-car personal computers (PCs) being developed jointly by Bcom Electronics, STMicroelectronics (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :STM (Scanning Tunneling Microscope) A microscope that can image down to the atomic level. An STM uses a piezoelectric tube with a tiny sharp tip at the end that is moved within nanometers of the object being sampled. ) and Ford Lio Ho Ford Lio Ho (福特六和) is an automaker based in Taiwan. It is 70% owned by Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford Motor Company. It began operations in 1972, assembling Ford models like the Cortina. of Taiwan, a joint venture between Taiwan's Lio Ho Group and U.S.-based Ford Motor Group (NYSE:F). The companies are working together to create an "all-in-one" head unit known as the Car Infotainment PC for the global automobile market. The Car Infotainment PC will combine multimedia, telecommunications and information systems to provide integrated features that include a digital cellular phone, voice recognition, a digital radio, speech synthesis speech synthesis Generation of speech by artificial means, usually by computer. Production of sound to simulate human speech is referred to as low-level synthesis. High-level synthesis deals with the conversion of written text or symbols into an abstract representation of and CD/DVD player, in addition to advanced navigational capabilities. M-Systems' 8MB, 16MB and 32MB DiskOnChip flash disk products are embedded in the Car Infotainment PC to store Windows CE (Windows Consumer Electronics) Microsoft's version of Windows for handheld devices and embedded systems that use x86, ARM, MIPS and SHx CPUs. Windows CE .NET superseded Windows CE 3.0. 3.0 and the browser. With the native support for DiskOnChip within Microsoft Windows See Windows. (operating system) Microsoft Windows - Microsoft's proprietary window system and user interface software released in 1985 to run on top of MS-DOS. Widely criticised for being too slow (hence "Windoze", "Microsloth Windows") on the machines available then. CE, Bcom did not need to expend any additional resources during their integration efforts. Additionally, by storing the operating system operating system (OS) Software that controls the operation of a computer, directs the input and output of data, keeps track of files, and controls the processing of computer programs. and application elements on the DiskOnChip, Car Infotainment PC users will benefit from the ruggedness and proven reliability of M-Systems' flash disk technology. "Auto manufactures are looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. highly reliable and functionally rich embedded solutions to power their entertainment systems," said Keith White, senior director of marketing, Embedded and Appliance Platforms Group at Microsoft Corp. "By choosing M-Systems' DiskOnChip in combination with Windows CE 3.0, the Lio Ho Group and the Ford Motor Group will be able to quickly and easily offer their customers a broad range of rich and innovative in-car services." "By storing a browser on M-Systems' flash disk, we are able to make our system much more than something that just connects to the net and provides global positioning," said Giuseppe Izzo, senior manager, audio and power segment, technical marketing and business development, Asia Pacific, STMicroelectronics. "The navigation system A GPS-based electronic system in a car or truck that provides a real time map of the vehicle's current location as well as step-by-step directions to a programmed destination. See GPS and vehicle tracking. , for example, can work in conjunction with a GSM phone and broadcast traffic information to direct the drivers to their destination, book parking places before arrival and call for immediate help in the case of an accident." "DiskOnChip is the perfect storage device for applications like our Car Infotainment PC," said Andrew Hou, president of Bcom. "Its small size, ease of integration and dependable operation helped all of us to advance this exciting new technology that will quickly become mainstream in the computer market. The Car Infotainment PC will be available in Taiwan by the end of the year, then in China and then worldwide, where we project 50,000-100,000 units will be sold in the first year." "M-Systems is proud to have its DiskOnChip technology associated with Bcom, Ford Lio Ho and ST for this exciting project," said Barry Doong, president of M-Systems Asia. "Since DiskOnChip provides the highest degree of data reliability, even within extreme temperatures, extensive vibrations and other harsh environmental conditions found in cars, we are confident that it is the ideal choice for this advanced application." About STMicroelectronics STMicroelectronics (formerly SGS-THOMSON Microelectronics) is a global independent semiconductor company, whose shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) World's largest marketplace for securities. The exchange began as an informal meeting of 24 men in 1792 on what is now Wall Street in New York City. , the Bourse bourse (b  rs), term applied to a European stock exchange. The first international bourse was established in Antwerp in the 16th cent. de Paris and the Milan Stock Exchange Milan Stock ExchangeThe largest regional stock exchange in Italy, facilitating more than 90% of the country's trading volume. . The company designs, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of semiconductor integrated circuits Integrated circuits Miniature electronic circuits produced within and upon a single semiconductor crystal, usually silicon. Integrated circuits range in complexity from simple logic circuits and amplifiers, about 1/20 in. (1. (ICs) and discrete devices used in a wide variety of microelectronic applications, including telecommunications systems, computer systems, consumer products, automotive products and industrial automation and control systems. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com. About Bcom Electronics Inc. Founded in 1983, Bcom Electronics Inc., a specialized computer system manufacturer, has accumulated tremendous experience in R&D, manufacturing and marketing. Along with the fast development in technology, consumer demand for information and communication products has been increasing. Bcom's products are developed for light, thin, short and small products. Bcom has successfully launched Palm-size PC, Mini-Notebook and Set-top box. Bcom not only was accredited accredited recognition by an appropriate authority that the performance of a particular institution has satisfied a prestated set of criteria. accredited herds cattle herds which have achieved a low level of reactors to, e.g. 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 & QS 9000, its Palm-size PC and Set-top-box won the award of "Symbol of Excellence." The upcoming new products will surely satisfy customers' dreams of being able to access information "wherever they are." More information about Bcom can be found on the Internet at www.bcom.com.tw. About M-Systems M-Systems is a leader and innovator of flash-based data storage products known as flash disks. M-Systems' flash disks provide the functionality of a mechanical hard drive in a silicon chip. M-Systems' products are based on its patented TrueFFS(R) technology and target applications in a vast array of markets, including connected devices, mobile and telecom. M-Systems' products include the DiskOnChip(R), DiskOnKey(TM), Fast Flash Disk (FFD FFD film-focal distance. ) and Compact Flash product families. For more information, contact M-Systems at www.m-sys.com. Note to Editors: A high-resolution photo image of the In-Car Infotainment PC jointly developed by Bcom, ST and Ford Lio Ho with M-Systems' DiskOnChip can be found on the Internet at http://www.m-sys.com/images/prs/CarInfo.jpg. All company and product names mentioned may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders and are used for identification purposes only. The matters discussed in this news release include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to vary significantly. These risks include market and competitive factors, and other risks described in the company's registration statement dated March 7, 2000 and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company assumes no obligation to update the information in this release. Reference to the company's Web site above does not constitute incorporation of any of the information thereon into this news release. |
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