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Technology Stocks : C-Cube -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: DiViT who wrote (35685)	9/3/1998 2:09:00 PM
From: DiViT	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 50808

Ah, here it is... C-CUBE ADDS DVD CHIP 08/24/98 CONSUMER ELECTRONICS (c) Copyright 1998 Warren Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved. C-Cube Microsystems is developing next-generation ZiVa DVD decoder that it expects to offer in volume by 1999. Chip has greater integration of functions and adds 3-D audio capability, company said in declining to release specs. New ZiVa decoder would replace existing IC currently priced under $20 in volumes of 50,000 or more per month, Senior Mktg. Dir. Patrick Henry said. Aiwa and Samsung are among those building chip into DVD players. New ZiVa will contain Spatializer Audio Labs' N-2-2 multichannel audio algorithm that allows users to get surround sound from 2 speakers. Pricing on new ZiVa DVD chips, expected to begin production in fall, hasn't been set, company said. C-Cube also is readying release of consumer version of DVx MPEG-2 decoder. It originally was designed as 7-chip set for broadcast market, but now will be available for DVD-RAM, digital VCR, camcorder and 2-way set-top box applications, Henry said. DVx is based on variable bit rate architecture that allows it to handle MPEG-1 at 2-3 Mb/sec., but work at 8 Mb speed for MPEG-2 as well, he said. Broadcast version runs at 50 Mb/sec. New DVx chip also is expected in 2nd-generation external video-capture products for PC that have been marketed by Dazzle Multimedia, Videonics, others. First generation was introduced in 1997 based on MPEG-1 decoders (TVD May 26/97 p16). On set-top front, C-Cube expects to ship Avia decoder chip (TVD April 13 p20) by 4th quarter that integrates 100 MHz processor. Two-chip decoder adds features including antiflicker filter. C-Cube is set-top chip supplier to several companies including Zenith, for Americast system, and WorldGate. Americast, consortium of regional Bell operating companies (RBOCs), has been rife with disagreements, and members have taken separate paths. BellSouth is offering set-top MMDS service in Atlanta, New Orleans and Orlando, while GTE is testing in Hawaii. Separately, C-Cube is targeting subsidiary Divicom , which supplies encoders to broadcast, DBS, digital cable and telecom markets, projecting 30-40% annual growth in next few years, Henry said. Currently, direct-to-home satellite accounts for 35% of revenue, telecom 30%, digital cable 20%, broadcasting 12%, datacasting and other 3%. Divicom is supplier for EchoStar's Digital Sky Highway (DISH) DBS system in U.S. and ExpressVu's in Canada.