Conexant Delivers Complete Solution for Making True High-Definition Digital
Television -- HDTV -- Affordable On Mainstream PCs
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Nov 8, 1999 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
Comprehensive Reference Design Combines Silicon and
Software From Conexant and RAVISENT Technologies Inc.,
and Leverages the Power of Intel's New Pentium-III Processors
Conexant Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:CNXT) Monday introduced the
DStreamATSC(TM) single card reference platform, the world's first truly
affordable NTSC/ATSC receiver card for HDTV.
Now, new PC systems can be inexpensively configured to receive and
display HDTV broadcasts on standard PC monitors, providing a true
high-definition viewing experience not available on most consumer
display devices.
Conexant's DStreamATSC offering combines Conexant's industry-leading
Fusion(TM) 878A PCI video decoder and software drivers with the
RAVISENT (Nasdaq:RVST) CineMaster(R) HDTV all-software MPEG-2
all-format decoder. This gives PC OEMs an easy-to-implement design
platform for bringing the first HDTV broadcasts to the mainstream
Pentium-III PC for less than $150.
RAVISENT's CineMaster HDTV delivers full-quality decoding and playback
of broadcast digital television signals, including the 720 progressive
format (720P) at 60 frames per second and the 1080 interlaced format
(1080i) at 30 frames per second.
It is estimated that more than 50 percent of television households
throughout the United States are already covered by terrestrial digital
broadcast signals, and by 2003, all U.S. stations licensed by the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are required to completely
convert to digital television broadcasting.
According to industry analyst firm Cahners In-Stat Group, the worldwide
market for DTV tuners for personal computers will grow to nearly 3
million units by 2002.
"DTV-equipped PCs are going to expand the reach of digital television
to a broad base of consumers," said Gerry Kaufhold, principal analyst
at Cahners In-Stat Group. "Because they enable consumers to reap the
benefits of digital television at significantly lower cost points than
early-generation digital TV sets, they are going to be significant
drivers of digital TV market penetration over the next several years.
"Datacasting to personal computers presents near-term revenue
opportunities for local digital TV stations, and broadcasters are
already climbing on board to promote personal computers as DTV
terminals."
Until now, HDTV broadcasts could only be watched on expensive, $5,000
to $10,000 consumer sets with partial resolution, or on PCs equipped
with $400 to $500 worth of hardware upgrades.
"With the DStreamATSC solution, we've leveraged the power of recently
introduced Intel processors to make HDTV reception and playback an
immersive, high-quality experience," said Greg Fischer, director of
marketing for Conexant's Digital Infotainment Division.
"Products based on the DStreamATSC architecture will enable
inexpensive, full-resolution HDTV and AC-3 audio on OEM systems in the
year 2000. With the DStreamATSC platform, we've also established a
robust platform for future enhancements like pause-TV viewing, digital
VCR and electronic programming guides that take advantage of the PC's
powerful interactive capabilities."
"We're very pleased that RAVISENT's software architecture is enabling
Conexant to be the first company to offer the PC OEM market a complete
and affordable HDTV solution," said Michael Harris, co-founder and
chief technology officer of RAVISENT. "Our whole purpose is to make it
easier and faster for OEM manufacturers like Conexant to deliver
digital product platforms ahead of the mass market and this low-cost
HDTV offering exemplifies that perfectly."
Conexant's DStreamATSC platform can be used with any graphics
accelerator chip supporting DVD playback capability and current
high-speed processors, such as Intel's Pentium-III processors.
Graphics chips that employ advanced DVD playback acceleration, such as
the ATI RAGE 128 Pro, enhance the DStreamATSC architecture one step
further by reducing the CPU speed requirements to 600 MHz.
"The Fusion 878A is a powerful architecture and when combined with the
inverse discrete cosine transform (iDCT) technology of our RAGE 128 Pro
product, enables today's Pentium-III processors with HDTV capability.
ATI is the only mainstream graphics chip producer that offers this
capability today," said Jewelle Schiedel-Webb, director of the Visual
Products Group, ATI Technologies Inc.
"When used with Conexant's DStreamATSC architecture, the RAGE 128 Pro
reduces overall processor loading, enabling high-performance HDTV
rendering for the broadest range of PC systems shipping next year."
The DStreamATSC solution's silicon foundation is Conexant's recently
announced Fusion 878A PCI video decoder. The Fusion 878A uses the same
innovative architecture as the industry's most popular Fusion family of
single-chip video decoders. These were the first of their kind to
seamlessly integrate audio and video capture into products that can be
connected directly to the PC's high-performance PCI bus for video
capture and NTSC/PAL/SECAM analog television applications.
Conexant will demonstrate its DStreamATSC reference platform at
COMDEX/Fall '99, Nov. 15 through Nov. 19 in Las Vegas. It is available
immediately to select customers who are designing add-in board products
for the industry's leading manufacturers of next-generation PCs.
Products based on the DStreamATSC design are expected to be released
into the marketplace during the first half of 2000.
About RAVISENT Technologies Inc.
RAVISENT is driving the digital entertainment revolution with an
integrated suite of digital video and audio products for PC and CE
manufacturers. RAVISENT enables the convergence of personal computer
and consumer electronics devices through software and hardware products
designed around a unique, modular software architecture that provides a
consistent look and feel across technology platforms.
Combining outstanding on-screen quality with high overall system
performance and integration, RAVISENT provides flexible and
cost-effective solutions to a spectrum of partners in the PC-OEM,
CE-OEM and semiconductor markets, including Compaq, Dell Computer,
Gateway, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Packard Bell/NEC, Yamaha, Sanyo, ATI
Technologies, Intel and ST Microelectronics.
Founded in 1994, RAVISENT completed an initial public offering in July
1999. The company has headquarters in Pennsylvania and has offices in
the Silicon Valley, Seattle, Germany and Japan. More information about
RAVISENT can be found on the World Wide Web at www.ravisent.com.
About Conexant Systems Inc.
Conexant's Digital Infotainment Division is a leading provider of
semiconductor systems for broadband and broadcast communications
applications. Addressing the convergence of PCs with consumer
entertainment products, the division's broad portfolio includes cable
and wireless modems, IP telephony products, digital set-top boxes, and
digital broadcast and video solutions for personal computing
appliances.
With revenues of approximately $1.5 billion, Conexant is the world's
largest independent company focused exclusively on providing
semiconductor products and systems solutions for communications
electronics. With more than 30 years of experience in developing
communications technology, the company draws upon its expertise in
mixed-signal processing to deliver integrated systems and semiconductor
products for a broad range of communications applications.
These products facilitate communications worldwide through wireline
voice and data communications networks, cordless and cellular wireless
telephony systems, personal imaging devices and equipment, and emerging
cable and wireless broadband communications networks.
The company aligns its business into five product platforms: Network
Access, Wireless Communications, Digital Infotainment, Personal Imaging
and Personal Computing. Conexant is a member of the Nasdaq-100 Index,
which represents the largest and most active stocks listed on The
Nasdaq Stock Market across major industry groups. For more information,
visit Conexant at www.conexant.com.
This news release contains statements relating to future results of the
company (including certain projections and business trends) that are
"forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially
from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties.
These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: global
and market conditions, including, but not limited to, the cyclical
nature of the semiconductor industry and the markets addressed by the
company's and its customers' products; demand for and market acceptance
of new and existing products; successful development of new products;
the timing of new product introductions; the availability and extent of
utilization of manufacturing capacity; pricing pressures and other
competitive factors; changes in product mix; fluctuations in
manufacturing yields; product obsolescence; the ability to develop and
implement new technologies and to obtain protection for the related
intellectual property; the successful implementation of the company's
diversification strategy; labor relations of the company, its customers
and suppliers; timely completion of Year 2000 modifications by the
company and its key suppliers and customers; and the uncertainties of
litigation, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including, but
not limited to, those detailed from time to time in the company's
Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking
statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the company
undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise. Other brands and names contained in this release are the
property of their respective owners.
Copyright (C) 1999 Business Wire. All rights reserved.
Distributed via COMTEX.
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CONTACT: Conexant Systems Inc., Newport Beach
Carol Thornton, 949/483-7413
carol.thornton@conexant.com
or
Benjamin Group/BSMG Worldwide
Judy Anderson or Heather McLaughlin, 714/245-7500
heather_mclaughlin@benjamingroup.com
or
RAVISENT Technologies Inc.
Lori Crenny, 610/408-7494
lcrenny@ravisent.com
or
Shandwick
Norman Iannarelli, 212/591-9796
niannarelli@shandwick.com |
