Long-term commitment to embedded sector, sound business model and years of experience in low power processor design pay-off as VIA Eden ESP processor customer base continues to grow

Taipei, Taiwan, 14 August 2003 - VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator and developer of silicon chip technologies and PC platform solutions, today announced that the VIA Eden™ ESP processor lifecycle support program will be extended to five years due to the processor family’s growing success in the fanless x86 processor market for Thin-Clients, Point Of Sale systems and Industrial PCs.

The popularity of the fanless VIA Eden ESP in the rapidly expanding embedded space can be ascribed to the processor’s ultra low power consumption with full native x86 compatibility and performance in a market with a perpetual appetite for demanding PC-based digital media applications. Aimed at longer-term projects, the new five-year lifecycle support program applies to all current VIA Eden ESP processors.

“The VIA Eden ESP processor is helping to bridge the gap between conventional embedded devices and the PC by providing additional functionality to systems that have traditionally only been single purpose devices,” said Steven Lee, Special Assistant to the President, VIA Technologies, Inc. “VIA’s continued strong commitment of R&D and other resources to the VIA Eden Platform amidst difficult market conditions sets us apart from the competition and is helping to speed the move to native x86 architecture for fanless connected systems.”

The VIA Eden Platform boasts an impressive roadmap featuring advanced technologies from all of VIA’s diverse product groups that target multiple markets requiring low power and fanless designs, e.g. digital video recorders, set-top boxes, thin-clients, point of sale systems, Voice over IP (VoIP) systems, video conferencing systems and industrial PCs. These include lower power consumption from faster and more powerful fanless VIA Eden ESP processors, an integrated hardware random number generator, integrated hardware MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 support, 24/192 7.1 surround sound audio, Gigabit Ethernet, HDTV support, RAID, Serial ATA, LVDS and TMDS flat-screen support to mention but a few. With the VIA Eden Platform, VIA provides a virtual one-stop shop for the ultimate digital media solution that is free of compatibility issues associated with other platforms.

“The market for ultra low power platforms is becoming increasingly competitive as performance requirements continue to rise while the consumer electronics orientated market demands lower costs and faster design cycles,” said Richard Brown, Associate Vice President of Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc. “VIA provides its customers with the peace of mind of dealing with a stable and financially sound business unit whose processor platforms are designed to add value to their current and future products.”

VIA Eden ESP Processor

The VIA Eden ESP is a low power, high performance fanless processor that is fully compatible with a complete range of Microsoft® Windows® as well as Linux operating systems. Market-leading thermal characteristics and cutting edge digital media technology make the VIA Eden ESP the ideal processor for ergonomic fanless system designs for a variety of innovative low profile and small form factors for the living room, car and commercial space. Combined with VIA’s leading chipset solutions and various VIA companion chips, it forms the VIA Eden Platform with unmatched ultra low levels of power consumption for a full featured embedded total solution.

The VIA Eden ESP processor is available from 300MHz to 600MHz with power consumption levels of between 1W and 5W. The VIA Eden ESP processor is covered by a 5-year lifecycle support program from VIA Technologies, Inc.



About VIA Technologies, Inc.

VIA Technologies, Inc. is the foremost fabless supplier of market-leading core logic chipsets, low power x86 processors, advanced connectivity, multimedia, networking and storage silicon, and complete platform solutions that are driving system innovation in the PC and embedded markets. Headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, VIA’s global network links the high tech centers of the US, Europe and Asia, and its customer base includes the world’s top OEMs, motherboard vendors and system integrators. VIA is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE2388) and achieved annual revenues of over US$720 million in 2002. http://www.via.com.tw