Philips Flat Display Systems Announces Partnership With Snippets.com; Philips FDS to Acquire Minority Stake in Java Software Developer - Company Business and Marketing

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Dec 6, 1999

Philips Flat Display Systems (FDS), one of the world's largest suppliers of active matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCDs) and a business group of Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands, announced Tuesday that it has entered into a partnership with Snippets.com, a developer of proprietary Java-encoded software headquartered in Pleasanton, Calif.

According to the terms of this agreement, Philips FDS will acquire a minority stake in the start-up company. The investment enables Philips FDS to license and market the company's revolutionary Snippets software technology across its broad range of advanced display platforms designed for both business and consumer electronics applications.

According to Matt Medeiros, Philips FDS' chairman and chief executive officer (CEO), the recent investment in Snippets is the latest in a series of strategic initiatives launched by Philips FDS over the past several months to further the company's efforts to be at the forefront of display innovation. "This agreement illustrates Philips FDS' commitment to working closely with leading-edge companies like Snippets to integrate unique applications within our advanced display platforms to ultimately deliver increased functionality to the display surface and provide greater value to our customers."

Snippets addresses many of the limitations inherent in today's browser technology, particularly for content accessed on a regular basis. Snippets provides a digital "dashboard-like" interface that enables users to "parse and snip" portions of web pages directly onto their desktops -- providing easy and immediate access to only that information from the Internet that is of interest to the user.

Unlike a web browser, Snippets' presence on a user's desktop is unobtrusive. Not only is the Snippets user interface ideal for desktop computers, but it has applications in other platforms, including handheld computers, web-enabled TVs, cellular phones and portable wireless Internet access devices.

Commenting on the partnership, Greg Millar, CEO of Snippets.com, noted, "Philips' investment, market position and support enables us to further advance our product. The established reputation of Philips FDS as a provider of innovative display technologies makes them a natural partner for us as we change the way people see and experience the Web through our own unique, yet simple-to-use technology."

Philips FDS manufactures and markets state-of-the-art flat panel displays including passive and active matrix LCD and Polymer LED products. A full line of display panels are available for desktop monitor, industrial, automotive, telecommunications, hand-held and medical system applications. Through its joint ventures -- LG.Philips LCD and Hosiden and Philips Displays (HAPD) -- Philips FDS has the world's largest AMLCD manufacturing capacity to date. Philips FDS is part of Philips Components, a division of Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands. Philips FDS is headquartered in San Jose and maintains facilities throughout Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific.

Snippets.com, the sleek, new digital dashboard to the Internet, redefines the way consumers browse and access Web information. By delivering Web content via smart icons, known as snippets, users can easily and conveniently track online content and data minute-by-minute. In turn, the Pleasanton-based company creates powerful opportunities for enterprises seeking to create definitive corporate portals, partners desiring highly targeted traffic en masse and developers seeking to exploit the Web in new, more efficient ways. To find out more about Snippets.com and to obtain a free download of the Snippets application, visit http://www.snippets.com.