Samsung and Sunplus's Subsidiary Sunext
Jointly Develop Optical Products
This agreement will bring the closer cooperation opportunity between Sunplus and Samsung. The introduction of Samsung to this partnership provides not only the related IP licensing fees to Sunplus and Oak respectively, but also bolsters Sunplus and Oakˇ¦s optical storage partnership. The strategic partnership between Samsung and Sunplus team up with Sunext also accelerates design development, leverages R&D investments and provides high-performance and more cost-effective SOC solutions for optical drive manufacturers.
The trend of increasing consumer storage, management, and delivery of digital content on optical media is reflected in significant market growth and opportunity. Independent market research firm, IDC estimates over 105 million optical recordable controllers (CD-RW, Combo, Recordable DVD) will be shipped in 2003, and 130 million units in 2004.
"Oak's optical technology expertise represents the best-in-class benchmark," said Dr. H. K. Lim, president of Samsung Electronics System LSI Division. "This partnership will strengthen our overall relationship and provide each company with significant development productivity and competitive market advantages."
"We are very pleased to have a strong partner like Samsung to support Sunplus and Sunext Technology," said Huang Chou-Chye, chairman of Sunplus Technology. "With Oak's optical technologies, Samsung's R&D and channel and Sunplus's leading consumer electronics position in Asia, we believe we can create a leading optical storage company and provide unparalleled support to our optical drive customers."
Young Sohn, chairman and chief executive officer of Oak Technology stated, "This partnership with Samsung underscores Oak's commitment to continually provide leading-edge and cost-effective solutions to our customers. We are proud to expand successful partnerships with industry leaders such as Samsung and Sunplus. Together, we expect Sunext, a subsidiary of Sunplus, to lead the optical storage market in the next phase of competition which will emphasize cost competitiveness, production scale and SOC integration."
About Sunplus Technology
Sunplus Technology Company Limited, which was established
in 1990, is a fabless IC design company devoted to electrical
consumer applications. Sunplus offers not only IC design
but also system solution to maximize customers' profit by
differentiating each design. Sunplus uses Intellectual Properties
(Ips) such as audio/video, micro-processor and digital signal
processor technologies to develop hundreds of products including
LCD IC, micro-controller IC, multi-media IC, Voice/Music
IC and ASIC which can be applied to our daily life. With
sales of NT$8.64 billion for 2002, Sunplus has annual growth
of 30.07%. For more information, please visit Sunplus website:
www.sunplus.com.tw
About Oak Technology
Oak Technology, Inc., a leading provider of solutions for
the storage, manipulation and distribution of digital content,
is committed to driving the emerging world of connected
consumer appliances. The company's fully integrated products
and technologies target two key markets: digital imaging
(advanced copiers, printers, faxes, scanners and MFPs) and
digital home entertainment (digital TV, HDTV and PVRs).
Founded in 1987, Oak is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California,
and has sales offices, design centers and research facilities
around the world. The company trades on the Nasdaq Stock
Exchange under the symbol OAKT. Additional information about
Oak and its digital solutions can be found at www.oaktech.com.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Is a global leader in semiconductor,
telecommunication, and digital convergence technology. Samsung
Electronics employs approximately 64,000 people in 89 offices
in 47 countries. The company is the world's largest producer
of memory chips, TFT-LCDs, CDMA mobile phones, monitors
and VCRs. Samsung Electronics consists of four main business
units: Digital Media Network, Device Solution Network, Telecommunication
Network and Digital Appliance Network Businesses. For more
information, please visit http://www.samsungelectronics.com/
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: In addition to the historical information contained herein, statements in this press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Federal securities laws and are subject to the safe harbors created thereby. The foregoing statements may consist of forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results. Factors that could cause actual outcome to differ materially from those set forth include, without limitation, the rate of adoption of new technology, the rate of growth of the optical storage, digital imaging, and HDTV market, changes in product mix, distribution channels, or manufacturing costs; the demand for semiconductors and end-user products that incorporate semiconductors; technological difficulties and resource constraints encountered in developing and/or introducing new products, and market acceptance of new products. Forward- looking statements contained in this press release regarding expected financial results, industry trends, sales and future product development and business strategies and activities should be considered in light of these factors, and those factors discussed from time to time in the company's public reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as those discussed in the company's Annual Report on Form 10K for fiscal year ended June 30, 2002, and in quarterly reports on Form 10Q.