Toshiba Semiconductor and TAEC to License TiVo Technology for Inclusion In Next-Generation Chip Design
Innovative Licensing Relationship to Drive Fast Deployment by Making a TiVo DVR Easier and Less Expensive to Build
SAN JOSE, Calif., June 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- TiVo (Nasdaq: TIVO - News),
the creator and leader of television services for digital video recording,
today announced Toshiba Semiconductor Company and Toshiba America Electronic
Components, Inc. (TAEC) as the latest technology licensees of its digital
video recorder (DVR) technology. The technology license includes intellectual
property in the form of a proprietary Media ASIC design, and a hardware
porting kit (HPK) that provides a standardized layer for implementing TiVo DVR
services on a variety of hardware platforms and operating systems. This
technology will enable DVR manufacturers to differentiate their products with
minimal cost.
"We are pleased to work with an industry leader like Toshiba as they take
this innovative step forward in the development of DVR technology," said Ta
Wei Chien, senior vice president and general manager TiVo's technology and
licensing business. "The integration of TiVo technology into Toshiba's chips
has the potential to accelerate the development of devices that enable the
TiVo service. This is another step towards the rapid proliferation of the TiVo
technology platform and the development of innovative products for consumers."
"Our customers are telling us they need the newest and most innovative
technology and chip designs. We see TiVo as the key to providing the latest
technology and important product differentiation for our customers," said
Farhad Mafie, vice president, ASSP Business Unit, System LSI Group, TAEC.
"Developing chips that are 'TiVo-ready' is an advantage for us. We believe in
the growing market for DVRs, and the standard-setting work TiVo has
accomplished is what led us to license technology from the market leader for
our next-generation products."
The addition of TiVo's Media ASIC intellectual property (IP) into
Toshiba's chip offering will enable consumer electronics manufacturers to more
easily and inexpensively integrate TiVo functionality into future devices. The
Media IP is an important component of TiVo's overall technology portfolio.
The HPK facilitates an open, hardware-agnostic approach to DVR
implementation. It provides the standard software layer from which DVR
applications can be easily ported to a range of hardware platforms and
operating systems. This allows manufacturers who utilize Toshiba's TiVo
enabled chip to readily differentiate their product with little overall cost.
The functionality licensed in these designs includes patented technology,
which enables many of the unique features that TiVo subscribers value, such as
pause, fast forward, instant replay and simultaneous recording and playback of
different programs, automated disk management, conflict resolution and many
others.
As part of the agreement, the companies will work together to integrate
the technology into chips that will become available sometime in 2004.
Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
About TiVo
Founded in 1997 with the mission to dramatically improve consumers'
television viewing experiences, TiVo is the creator of and undisputed leader
in television services for digital video recorders (DVR). TiVo's leadership
has defined and inspired the entire category, earning the company patents for
pioneering inventions associated with DVR software and hardware design. TiVo
was the first to deliver on the promise of consumer choice and control over TV
viewing, building a loyal and passionate subscriber base with over 97% of
customers recommending TiVo to a friend. This enthusiasm has contributed to
overwhelming growth over the past year, bringing the total subscriber base to
exceed 420,000. TiVo is headquartered in San Jose, CA. Revenues for the twelve
months ended January 31, 2002 were $19.4 million. Additional information can
be found at http://www.tivo.com .
This release may contain forward-looking statements regarding TiVo's
business, customers or other factors that may affect future earnings or
financial results. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which
could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or
indicated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual
results to differ materially include delays in development, competitive
service offerings and lack of market acceptance, as well as the "Factors That
May Affect Future Operating Results" and other risks detailed in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the period ended January 31, 2002, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. We caution you not to place undue reliance
on forward-looking statements, which reflect an analysis only and speak only
as of the date hereof.
NOTE: TiVo is a registered trademark of TiVo Inc. in the United States
and other jurisdictions. All other company or product names mentioned may be
trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies with which
they are associated.
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