Nec Selects Sigma's Mpeg Decoder Chips For New Multimedia Consumer Pcs

EDP Weekly's IT Monitor, June 3, 2002

Sigma Designs (Nasdaq:SIGM), has announced that NEC Corporation has selected Sigma's MPEG decoder EM8470 for incorporation into its new VALUESTAR T series of multimedia consumer PCs. NEC has already placed an initial production order to support shipments of its new product line starting in May 2002.

"We are excited to introduce our new VALUESTAR products, which offer many ground-breaking features for consumer entertainment," said Mr. Kazunori Muraki, general manager of NEC CustomTechnica, Ltd. "The addition of Sigma's MPEG decoders will provide the type of high-quality video output that our customers have come to expect."

Sigma's EM8470 -- a featured hardware component in NEC's new product -- supports video playback on the television for the new VALUESTAR T products and is envisioned for use with a broad range of video applications. As a highly integrated decoder chip, Sigma's EM8470 is capable of decoding MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4 video content, Dolby Digital, MPEG-1 Layers 1 and 2, AAC and CELP audio content as well as complete output formatting for TV display (though not all these features are supported on NEC's new products).

"NEC's new multimedia consumer PC products cuts new ground between traditional personal computers and consumer interactive set-top appliances," said Ken Lowe, vice president of business development at Sigma Designs. "Sigma is enthusiastic about working with NEC and providing our third generation MPEG decoder chips to support top quality interactive video features for TV viewing."