Emblaze Semiconductor Powers the Multimedia Experience of the Most Advanced Wireless Handsets and Mobile Devices

Business Wire, Feb 10, 2004

Business Editors

RA'ANANA, ISRAEL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 10, 2004

Emblaze prepares for 3GSM World Congress 2004 after a

successful year of design wins and partnerships that further its

position as a leading global player

In a year's time since 3GSM World Congress 2003, Emblaze Semiconductor, an Emblaze Group company (LSE: BLZ) and a leading provider of mobile multimedia and application ICs, has brought three handsets into production, secured new design wins and partnerships, and introduced its most advanced multimedia chip, the ER4525 - all increasing the company's prominence as a provider of the most advanced technology for wireless multimedia handsets and devices.

Most recently, Emblaze Semiconductor is developing a mobile phone/PDA with integrated camera with Ningbo Bird, which has overtaken Motorola to become China's largest manufacturer of cell phones. The advanced smartphone, scheduled for mass production in 2004, incorporates the Emblaze Semiconductor ER4521 mobile multimedia processor.

The ER4525 has also been chosen by Samsung Electronics for a CDMA multimedia handset model. It is planned for shipment to KTF, a leading carrier in Korea, in 2004.

"In 2003, we have succeeded in implementing our chips into today's leading multimedia devices and have secured significant design wins, many scheduled for release this year," said Uzi Breier, CEO, Emblaze Semiconductor. "We look forward to taking the company to even greater levels as we grow in market share and introduce new technologies for transforming the mobile multimedia experience that would hopefully translate into greater revenues."

"Lior Fite, vice president of marketing, Emblaze Semiconductor, said: "Our achievements over the past year are proof that if an OEM or ODM is looking for the most powerful, most efficient solutions for advanced multimedia, they need look no further than Emblaze Semiconductor."

Other recent achievements that further illustrate the accomplishments of Emblaze Semiconductor:

-- The launch of Telson's newest mobile multimedia phone, the

TDC6610, featuring the Emblaze Semiconductor ER4521. It is the

first mobile phone to provide video streaming capabilities in

Thailand and one of the first in the Thai market to run on the

CDMA-1X network, which has higher capabilities enabling

multimedia and entertainment functions.

-- DBTEL, one of the largest brand-name mobile phone makers in

China and Taiwan, selected the Emblaze Semiconductor ER4521

and ER4525 multimedia processors for several new models of

mobile multimedia phones. The ER4521 powers two of DBTEL's

recently launched models, M7 and M8, which are now available

to cellular operators. The ER4525 is also the basis for

additional DBTEL multimedia phone models.

-- The launch of Emblaze Semiconductor's latest mobile multimedia

system-on-a-chip product, the ER4525, the 3rd generation of

the company's mobile multimedia and applications processors.

Featuring video capture at CIF size (at high frame rate),

extended digital audio and general-purpose processing power,

in a smaller footprint and lower cost than competing chips,

the ER4525 is designed and optimized for power and

space-constrained devices such as cellular phones,

communicators and personal digital assistants (PDAs).

-- The development of an integrated platform with TTPCom to

provide brand name and OEM/ODM handset makers with a fully

featured multimedia mobile phone solution. The collaboration

between Emblaze Semiconductor and TTPCom utilizes Emblaze

Semiconductor's ER452x line of multimedia processors and

TTPCom's GSM/GPRS/EDGE/3G protocol and applications software.

Two platforms are in development to provide multimedia

capabilities in feature-rich and smart mobile phone devices.

-- Emblaze Semiconductor provided the multimedia IC technology

that powers the Digital Act Campho Advance videophone

peripheral for Nintendo Game Boy(R) Advance. The Campho

Advance, which allows Game Boy owners to communicate via

videophone.

-- The ER4521 is the master of the AlphaCell M5 smartphone. It

powers the Windows CE.NET operating system, all basic phone

functions and a set of multimedia applications, including

full-color display, integrated still and video camera

applications, Internet browsing, personal information

management, gaming and messaging services.

Emblaze Semiconductor's line of multimedia-centric application processors provide the optimal architecture for a wide range of mass market applications such as cell phones, smart phones, multimedia phones, wireless devices, PDAs, IP cameras, toys and games, and surveillance products. This product line addresses the intensive processing power challenges of today's 2.5G and 3G terminals, enabling superior quality, high performance audio, video and graphics processing at low power consumption and small form factor. Through capabilities such as audio and video capture, video encoding/decoding, video display, and on-chip LCD controller, the chips support wireless multimedia applications that include download to media flash, audio and video local playback, MP3/AAC player, audio and video streaming and messaging, digital video and still camera, MIDI decoding and playback, and full duplex video telephony.