press releasesPortalPlayer And Icera Lay Foundation For New Class Of Connected Portable Multimedia DeviceTechnology Leaders Embark on Plan to Bring High-Speed Cellular Connectivity Personal Media Players SAN JOSE, Calif. & BRISTOL, U.K., Feb. 7, 2006 – PortalPlayer Inc. (Nasdaq: PLAY), a leading supplier of semiconductors, firmware and software for personal media players and secondary display-enabled notebook computers, and Icera, the wireless soft modem company, today announced the two companies are working together to enable a new class of always-connected portable multimedia device. The initial technology platform under development by the two companies is a personal media player with an integrated HSDPA modem to deliver an always-connected service, enabling over-the-air browsing and fast download of music and video files through high-speed, cellular broadband networks. This and other potential devices and services within this new segment will give consumers more flexibility to purchase and enjoy digital content such as music, photos, videos and games anywhere they wish. "The advent of cellular broadband, as HSDPA is launched in 3G and GSM networks, is set to revolutionize the mobile industry, driving new classes of mobile devices and services," said Nigel Toon, vice president of marketing at Icera. "Integrating Icera's wireless soft modem and PortalPlayer's core media-player technology will help bring to market compelling new products that are very low power and have high-speed, always-on connectivity." "For the first time, carriers, MVNOs and other service providers will have access to wirelessly enabled end-user multimedia devices that don't break the proven personal-media-player model," said Richard Miller, CTO and acting general manager of the Personal Wireless Entertainment Division of PortalPlayer. "We believe that starting with a proven media player core and adding ultra-power-efficient wireless modem technology, like that from Icera, is the best model for creating successful connected personal media players." The goal of the two companies is to create a complete platform of semiconductors, firmware and applications software that makes it simple and efficient for manufacturers to build cellular-enabled digital media devices. The availability of these new devices should spur carriers and other service providers to offer a wide variety of media and entertainment services to their wireless subscribers. The number of potential applications for a consumer-friendly personal media player that is wirelessly connected to a high-speed cellular data network is compelling and includes:
The platform will deliver peak data-rates of 3.6 Mbps and is software upgradeable to 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA. Editor's Note PortalPlayer will be at the 3GSM World Congress 2006 in Fira de Barcelona from Feb. 13-16 in Suite HS3.03, Hall 4, Level 3. To make an appointment, please contact Alex Guerra at +1-650-762-2847 (Feb. 7-9), +1-408-507-8334 (Feb. 10-16) or aguerra@arpartners.com. Icera will be at 3GSM 2006 in Fira de Barcelona, Stand G63, Hall 2 Feb 13-16. About Icera Icera is the leader in wireless soft modem devices and supports mobile terminal and datacard OEMs with the highest performance HSDPA through a range of platform solutions. Founded in 2002, Icera is headquartered in the UK, with design locations in the UK and France, sales offices in Europe and Japan and representative support in Korea. For more information, visit the Icera web site at http://www.icerasemi.com. About PortalPlayer PortalPlayer develops semiconductor, firmware and software platforms for portable multimedia products such as personal media players and secondary display enabled notebook computers. PortalPlayer products empower consumers to quickly and easily manage, enjoy and have access to multimedia content and other forms of information. PortalPlayer is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., with offices in Kirkland, Wash.; Taipei, Taiwan; and Hyderabad, India. PortalPlayer and the PortalPlayer logo are trademarks of PortalPlayer Inc. All other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners. Contacts Kim Stowe Tim Yankey Sally Doherty
# # # Forward-Looking Statements Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the future availability of a technology platform that combines a media player core and ultra power efficient wireless modem technology, the adoption of such platform by manufacturers, and the performance of such platform, including the peak data rates of such platform and power consumption, the timing of the introduction of consumer products that incorporate such platform and the market acceptance of such new consumer products, the adoption of cellular broadband and the growth of new devices and services based upon cellular broadband or the platform, and the anticipated applications developed for devices that incorporate the platform are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expect," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will," "designed to," "forward" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties, including, among others, the acceptance of the platform under development by PortalPlayer and Icera by consumer electronics and mobile handset device manufacturers, the market for consumer electronics and mobile handsets, the platform's capabilities and performance, manufacturing and supply risks, the timing and introduction of cellular broadband technologies and services, and other risks and uncertainties detailed in PortalPlayer's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005 and from time to time in PortalPlayer's SEC filings. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. PortalPlayer does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements. |
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