Quantum-Cube
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Quantum Corporation Launches A/V Solutions Alliance to Deliver Proven DVR Technologies to Set-Top Box Manufacturers
New Alliance Program Taps Premier Members to Accelerate Development of Hard Drive-Enabled Consumer Electronics Devices -- C-Cube, Enreach and Exatel Among First to Participate
MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 3, 2001-- Quantum Corporation's Consumer Electronics Business Unit, a division of the Hard Disk Drive Group (NYSE:HDD - news), today announced its new A/V Solutions Alliance to accelerate the delivery of digital video recorder (DVR) technologies into the growing market for hard drive-enabled consumer electronics products.
Quantum's A/V (audio/video) Solutions Alliance enables consumer electronics manufacturers to easily identify and select proven DVR solutions -- the technology behind personal video recorders (PVRs). The alliance will allow a wide array of consumer electronics (CE) manufacturers to come to market rapidly with cost-competitive PVR products. Increasingly, CE manufacturers are looking to embed DVR capabilities into a variety of applications ranging from standalone recorders and cable and satellite set-top boxes to television sets. CE manufacturers, particularly in the Asia Pacific region, are requesting packaged DVR solutions to meet consumer demand for PVRs. Analysts have predicted that PVRs will be adopted by more than 14 million Americans by 2004.
``Hard drive video recorders have found a permanent home inside consumer electronics devices,'' said Larry Gerbrandt, senior analyst for Paul Kagan Associates, Inc., a Carmel, Calif.-based media research and consulting firm. ``However, many CE manufacturers do not have the resources to develop their own DVR products rapidly. In order to accelerate the DVR market, it will be increasingly critical for manufacturers to work with compatible and mature DVR technologies and solutions providers.''
The Quantum A/V Solutions Alliance will serve as a one-stop industry resource for digital video recording hardware and software, integration and testing services. Beginning with initial Alliance members C-Cube, EnReach and Exatel, Quantum will help fulfill the needs of its OEM customers by providing a choice of DVR development solutions that are flexible, modular and easy to integrate.
``To support the growing demand for DVR technology we wanted to ally ourselves with a proven industry leader like Quantum which will enable EnReach to further demonstrate the solidity of our core DVR software technology,'' said David Cong, vice president of product marketing and business development of EnReach Technology. ``Our infrastructure software for services such as enhanced TV, broadband streaming, electronic programming guides (EPGs) and time-shifting capabilities complements Quantum's unparalleled strength and reliability in audio/video storage technology.''
``Our partnership with Quantum is helping C-Cube to accelerate the DVR market by making available C-Cube's new cost-effective reference platform, Kronos, for the creation of next-generation products,'' said Chris Day, senior director of marketing at C-Cube. ``Kronos addresses the needs of the evolving DVR market by enabling OEMs to rapidly develop hard disk drive-based time-shifting products.''
``Digital video recorders present tremendous opportunities for new home entertainment applications,'' said Gary Learner, vice president of business development for Exatel. ``Exatel's innovative PVR module, combined with Quantum's advanced hard-drive technology provides a cost-effective solution for the rapidly growing home entertainment market. We have joined the Quantum alliance to help CE manufacturers shorten time-to-market and lower development costs by offering a well integrated DVR solution.''
Quantum's A/V Solutions Alliance will continue to create relationships with industry-leading companies to address the growing demands of the hard drive-based CE market. Looking ahead, Quantum's A/V Solutions Alliance will provide innovative technology solutions for other growing CE hard drive categories such as audio jukeboxes, Internet appliances and game consoles.
``With the launch of the Quantum AV Solutions Alliance, we are providing customers with reliable DVR technology that is ready today,'' said Paul Streit, manager of OEM solutions marketing for Quantum CEBU. ``Customers will benefit from an immediate competitive advantage by shortening time-to-market, as well as from the ease of conducting business with an integrated group of solutions providers.''
Quantum's Proven Expertise
The technology required to build a robust DVR involves a multitude of components. At the core, Quantum offers A/V storage technology that records and plays back digital content with random access DVR functionality. Quantum's pioneering technology also includes file management systems, streaming technologies for ATA and 1394 isochronous architectures, content protection and recording and playback management.
Since its inception in 1997, Quantum CEBU has been working closely with the industry's largest CE manufacturers to integrate DVR technology into new CE products. Quantum has played an instrumental role in educating companies about product design considerations -- electrical, environmental, acoustical and structural. With over 20 years of experience in the storage industry, Quantum has been setting new standards for manufacturing, reliability and testing of emerging consumer products.
State-of-the-Art Testing Facilities
Quantum also provides systems integration and testing vital to the development and longevity of a CE product. Quantum's Design Assurance facility is arguably the industry's most sophisticated testing center. Inside Quantum's laboratories, there are more than 100 pieces of test equipment installed and used in 92,000 square feet of real estate. Thousands of drives are subjected to as many as 245 individual tests over a grueling six month regimen to ensure that all Quantum drives meet or exceed specifications. Over 1.2 million feet of cable and fiber connect 6,000 test nodes to a network amassing 10GBs of test data per product.
About CEBU
In 1997, Quantum's Consumer Electronics Business Unit (CEBU) laid the foundation for applications of hard drives in consumer electronics by performing primary research on consumers' television viewing habits. Further quantifying the market for new categories of consumer electronics products, CEBU followed up with a national Nielsen Media Research study in 1998. The results of Quantum's on-going in-depth research confirm that consumers indeed value what Quantum QuickView technology offers -- a richer, more convenient media experience. CEBU's pioneering work with service providers TiVo and Replay, and its development of Quantum QuickView technologies, have helped to create the PVR market. Looking ahead, CEBU is forging new, expanded relationships with CE manufacturers and content and service providers to develop a fresh breed of exciting products, services, and technologies that will further enhance consumers' entertainment experiences.
About C-Cube
C-Cube Semiconductor Inc. is the industry leader in the development and delivery of highly integrated digital video silicon. C-Cube's delivers digital video silicon and systems solutions for the communications and consumer electronics markets. C-Cube is headquartered in Milpitas, Calif. with offices in North America, Europe, and Asia. Its stock is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol CUBE. C-Cube can be reached at 408/490-8000 or at www.c-cube.com.
About EnReach Technology, Inc.
EnReach is a global leader in providing OEMs, ISP's, telecommunications companies, and broadband, cable and digital satellite operators with the infrastructure software to deliver integrated voice, video, and data solutions services on television. EnReach's television-based software provides a full-suite of interactive services, such as broadband video streaming, interactive television, personal television and Internet communications. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, the privately held company has offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, China and Toronto, Canada. Additional information regarding EnReach Technology is available at www.enreach.com.
About Exatel
Exatel is a leading provider of solutions for the digital video recording, broadcasting and networking markets. Exatel products include PVR Module -- personal video recorder for integration into TVs, set-top boxes and other Consumer Electronics devices, DVN-2000 -- professional quality MPEG-2 Encoder with DVB interface, and DVNet -- cost-effective MPEG-2 Encoder with IP interface. More information is available on Exatel's Web site: www.exatel.net.
About Quantum
Founded in 1980, Quantum Corporation (www.quantum.com) is one of the world's leading storage suppliers. Its principal products include hard disk drives for both the desktop and high-end market segments, tape drives, network attached storage (NAS) appliances, solid state systems, hard disk drive appliances for consumer electronics, and DLTtape automation systems. In 1999, Quantum became the first Silicon Valley company to issue tracking stock, replacing its existing common stock with the ticker symbols DSS and HDD, which track the separate performance of the company's DLT and Storage Systems and Hard Disk Drive businesses. Both stocks are traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Selling its products through OEM and distribution channels worldwide, Quantum's sales for the fiscal year ended March 2000 were $1.4 billion for Quantum's DLT and Storage Systems Group and $3.3 billion for Quantum's Hard Disk Drive Group. Quantum Corp., 500 McCarthy Blvd., Milpitas, CA 95035, 408/894-4000, www.quantum.com.
Note to Editors: Quantum and the Quantum logo are trademarks of Quantum Corporation, registered in the United States and other countries. Quantum QuickView is a trademark of Quantum Corporation.
The foregoing statements regarding products, technology, performance, features, availability, price, ease-of-use, time-to-market and the impact of the new technology, products and features on Quantum and the market are forward looking statements and actual results could vary. Factors which could affect actual results include the ability to successfully integrate new technology and features into products in a cost-effective manner, the ability to successfully manufacture and distribute those products at sufficient volume, quality and reasonable cost, the timing of the new product introductions, competition, and the significant uncertainty of market acceptance of the new products, technology and features.
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Contact:
Quantum Corporation
Rob Lopez, 408/324-7431
rob.lopez@quantum.com
or
The Hoffman Agency
Lily Lin, 408/975-3084
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