BW0503 JUN 12,2000 11:34 PACIFIC 14:34 EASTERN
Business Editors/High Tech Writers
FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 12, 2000--Today VividLogic Inc. (VividLogic) announced its agreement to supply Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Inc. with a key software package to enable Full Audio Video (FAV) level Home Audio Video interoperability (HAVi) capability in Mitsubishi's future digital televisions.
This multi-year technology development agreement was reached to meet the future demands of the digital television marketplace, as well as the continued integration of digital services and technology into televisions. At its recent national press conference, Mitsubishi announced its first product based on this software package - an upgrade module which will be available to upgrade all MDEA's HD-Upgradeable projection televisions. This module provides IEEE 1394 interface, FAV level HAVi, 5C copy protection, ATSC over-the-air and DTV cable reception (unscrambled) services to these existing and future Mitsubishi televisions. Mitsubishi also noted in this conference its intent to remain the market leader in these new digital televisions, and noted that FAV level HAVi is key to this leadership. While not announcing further specific products, company executives noted that this product is the first in a major assortment of products using HAVi.
"VividLogic's FireBus(tm) Software will provide our Digital TVs with the ability to interoperate with IEEE 1394 devices from different manufacturers. The software stack with its HAVi API and all related protocols will provide the necessary infrastructure and allow us to maintain our undisputed leadership in digital television," said Robert A. Perry, Mitsubishi's director of marketing.
"Our requirement for a robust software product that we could trust would be delivered on time led us to VividLogic" noted Jim Hicks, Mitsubishi's director of engineering.
VividLogic noted that FireBus(tm) is a comprehensive, off the shelf solution designed specifically to build Digital Products such as Digital TVs, Set Top Boxes, Printers, etc. The software comes complete with a highly portable HAVi (Full, Intermediate and Base Audio Video) software stack (including org.havi.ui), On Screen Display using EIA 775, Copy Protection based on 5C, AVC Commands, IEC 61883 protocol, Portable IEEE 1394 device drivers that support different IEEE 1394 chip sets and Operating Systems. The software will be available on WinCE, VxWorks, PSOS and Linux OS for TI and Sony IEEE 1394 chip sets with 5C content protection.
"We are thrilled to be selected by Mitsubishi, the leader in Digital Television technology for such a key relationship and we are very excited to partner with them. Our strategy of allowing our customers choice of silicon and operating systems while developing robust software that includes all flavors of HAVi (FAV, IAV and BAV) along with all needed infrastructure to build Home Networks has paid off," said Shiva S. Patibanda, Chief Executive Officer, VividLogic, Inc. "Some CE companies have a two year head start on this technology, our objective was to cut this lead and help our partners deliver products in time to market."
VividLogic's agreement with Mitsubishi includes development of HAVi applications that improve the ease of use of all network devices, a key focus of Mitsubishi's strategy, further noted Patibanda.
VividLogic Inc. is a leading provider of Home Network Solutions based on IEEE 1394 and HAVi software. The company's innovative FireBus stack powers the next generation of CE devices in the digital home. FireBus provides the necessary HAVi compliant infrastructure and open APIs for third parties to develop applications that run seamlessly on multiple devices from different manufacturers. For additional information about VividLogic, visit http://www.vividlogic.com/.
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CONTACT:
VividLogic Inc.
Sivakumar Patibanda, 510/791-2006
sivakumar@vividlogic.com
KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ELECTRONIC GAMES/MULTIMEDIA ENTERTAINMENT HARDWARE SOFTWARE TELEVISION/RADIO MARKETING AGREEMENTS