Microsoft and Broadcom Deliver Combined Hardware and Software Platform for More Cost-Efficient HD DV

PRNewswire…

Jan 8, 2007 03:01 ET

Microsoft and Broadcom Deliver Combined Hardware and Software Platform for More Cost-Efficient HD DVD Players

Leading companies Lite-On and Jiangkui are on board to use Windows CE 6.0-based Broadcom complete reference design starting in the second quarter.

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Today at the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Broadcom Corp. announced a joint effort to support a hardware and software reference design for more cost-efficient HD DVD playback. The new platform uses Microsoft(R) Windows(R) CE 6.0 and Broadcom’s BCM7440 system-on-chip solution, allowing consumer electronics manufacturers, original design manufacturers and systems integrators to more easily and affordably deliver HD DVD playback. Several of the more innovative, high volume electronics companies that plan to use this new hardware and software platform to speed the production of HD DVD players include Lite-On IT Corp. and Zhenjiang Jiangkui Group Co. Ltd./ED Digital.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )

In less than a year, HD DVD is already transforming the way people watch movies. With several hundred thousand HD DVD players in homes and more than 240 movie titles to choose from, studios are taking full advantage of the pristine video and audio quality and the ability to add interactive features to blockbuster films. HD DVD movies have received reviewers’ top ratings among high-definition media, and consistently outsell and outrank similar titles of competing optical disc formats.* To keep up with demand, major studios have announced more than 300 HD DVD movies for 2007.

“One of the critical steps in bringing HD DVD to the mass market is driving down the price of the units while maintaining flawless quality,” said Peter Besen, vice president, Consumer Electronics, Broadband Communications Group, from Broadcom. “Our BCM7440 chipset brings multiple processors, dual decoders and dedicated graphics engines to the table. Combined with the power of Windows CE 6.0, we’re able to offer a complete reference design that dramatically reduces development time for our manufacturing partners.”

The Microsoft and Broadcom platform also ensures a high level of compliance with the HD DVD specification and compatibility with other HD DVD platforms, including the Xbox 360(TM) platform. With fully functional HDi(TM) interactivity and navigation software, and support for all mandatory HD DVD codecs including the industry-leading VC-1 codec, the hardware and software platform meets the requirements for the playback of advanced HD DVD interactive content already in production by leading Hollywood studios.

Through the support of Lite-On, HD DVD will benefit from one of the most experienced systems integrators backing high volume consumer electronics manufacturers that offer customized OEM solutions. Combined with Jiangkui’s experience as one of the largest high volume Chinese DVD manufacturers, the Microsoft and Broadcom platform is already poised to significantly impact the HD DVD landscape in 2007.

“We’ve seen strong sales of HD DVD players and movies so far, but using this new platform, companies can produce HD DVD players in record time, resulting in more choices for consumers,” said Amir Majidimehr, corporate vice president of the Consumer Media Technology Group at Microsoft. “The power and high integration of BCM7440, combined with the Windows CE 6.0 HD DVD platform, results in even lower cost players for consumers than the high value products already in the market.”

The first players incorporating the new platform are expected from manufacturers in the second quarter of this year.

About Broadcom

Broadcom Corporation is a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications. Our products enable the delivery of voice, video, data and multimedia to and throughout the home, the office and the mobile environment. Broadcom provides the industry’s broadest portfolio of state-of- the-art system-on-a-chip and software solutions to manufacturers of computing and networking equipment, digital entertainment and broadband access products, and mobile devices. These solutions support our core mission: Connecting everything(R).

Broadcom, one of the world’s largest fabless semiconductor companies with 2005 revenue of more than $2.67 billion, is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and has offices and research facilities in North America, Asia and Europe. Broadcom may be contacted at 1-949-926-5000 or at www.broadcom.com .

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

* Source: http://www.thedvdwars.com/index.cfm , tracking format sales based on Amazon.com data.

NOTE: Microsoft, Windows, Xbox 360, HDi and Windows Vista are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

All statements included or incorporated by reference in this release, other than statements or characterizations of historical fact, areforward- looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our respective current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry and business, management’s beliefs, and certain assumptions made by us, all of which are subject to change. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing,” similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause the actual results of Broadcom or Microsoft to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statement.

Each of Broadcom’s and Microsoft’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss important risk factors that could contribute to such differences or otherwise affect its business, results of operations and financial condition. The forward-looking statements in this release speak only as of this date. Neither Broadcom nor Microsoft undertake any obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement for any reason.
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO
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Source: Microsoft Corp.

CONTACT: Dane Estes of Weber Shandwick, +1-425-452-5400, or
destes@webershandwick.com, for Microsoft; or Laura Brandlin of Broadcom,
+1-949-926-5108, or lbrandlin@broadcom.com

Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/

http://www.broadcom.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx .

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