Marvell: First-to-Market with a Total SoC Solution for eReader applications

Marvell: First-to-Market with a Total SoC Solution for eReader applications

- accelerating the release of new and innovative forms of eReaders at a variety of price points

A technology collaboration between Marvell Semiconductor (a long standing Ismosys partner) and E Ink, the supplier of electronic paper display (EPD) technologies has resulted in the release of a highly integrated eReader platform designed to accelerate the rapid release of new forms of eReaders at a variety of price points.

Central to this new eReader platform is the Marvell® ARMADA™ 166E application processor, the world's first commercially available SoC to integrate a high performance processor and state of the art EPD controller on a single chip. The ARMADA 166E is designed to offer users ultra fast renderings of high resolution PDF documents and support for the latest ePaper technologies in new smaller, slimmer form factors with lower system cost than the competition. The ARMADA 166E also brings to eReaders new features that save power and extend battery life including a unique hibernation mode, or zero power mode.

Integrating key Marvell technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G modem, and power management – the ARMADA eReader has the potential to deliver the first mass market product accessible and affordable to billions of consumers around the world. According to Ms. Weili Dai, Marvell's Co-founder and Vice President and General Manager of the Company's Consumer and Computing Business Unit, Marvell's passion is to give consumers more choice, improved features, and greater access to more information with eReaders that are aimed at education, health, and business applications: "With this announcement, Marvell raises the technology bar and takes the lead in the eReader market by offering highly desired features at competitive price points," Ms Dai said.

Background:
As one of the fastest growing consumer markets, eReaders continue to grow in popularity due to falling retail prices, improved features, and fast growing library of digital content. According to a recent iSuppli Research report, eReaders are projected to top 18 million units shipped in 2012, from 1.1 million units last year.

Marvell and E Ink have been working together and co-developing products for the ePaper market. The recently signed agreement between Marvell and E Ink includes joint development and cross licensing of next generation ePaper timing controllers and system platforms, which the companies anticipate will result in higher integration and lower cost solutions for eReader manufacturers. Consumer ready eReaders are expected to be available to end-users in 2010.

The two companies have also joined forces with FirstPaper, LLC, to integrate unique technology into the ARMADA 166E. This joint innovation enables a range of display sizes and resolutions, including support for larger screens that will deliver layouts, graphics, and content choices that people normally associate with periodicals, larger-format books, and documents.

"Periodicals are the next big frontier in eReading," said Gil Fuchsberg, President of FirstPaper, which will bring a new eReading ecosystem to market in 2010. "To enable great newspaper and magazine reading experiences, eReading devices need the right tools to make richer layouts and complex content come to life. We're excited to be working with Marvell to bring such tools to the market." Device manufacturers will be able to take full advantage of FirstPaper's integrated content and commerce platform with the ARMADA 166E.

About Marvell
Marvell (NASDAQ: MRVL) is a world leader in the development of storage, communications, and consumer silicon solutions. Marvell's diverse product portfolio includes switching, transceiver, communications controller, wireless, and storage solutions that power the entire communications infrastructure including enterprise, metro, home, and storage networking. For more information, visit http://www.marvell.com.

About E Ink
E Ink Corporation is the world's leading supplier of electronic paper display (EPD) technologies. E Ink's technology is ideal for many consumer and industrial applications spanning handheld devices, eBooks, eNewspapers, PC-accessories, public information displays and promotional signs. E Ink is a private corporation that includes among its investors and strategic partners Air Products and Chemicals, ChiLin Technology, Epson, Hearst Corp, Intel Capital, LG Display, Motorola, Philips, Prime View International, Toppan Printing Co and Wacom. E Ink's customers include Amazon, Casio, Citizen, Hanwang, Hitachi, iRex, Lexar, Plastic Logic, Samsung and Sony. Recently, E Ink has signed an agreement to merge with Prime View International (8069: TWO) with the intent to close the merger by December 2009. E Ink news can be found at: www.eink.com  .