PCMCIA Shows Latest Wave of ExpressCard Products at CES


ExpressCard Technology Gains Momentum as PC Card Replacement; Modules Offer Faster Performance in a Smaller Size

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 8 -- Consumer Electronics Show -- PCMCIA, the leading technology trade association for PC Card technology, today announced that the newest wave of ExpressCard® notebook computers, modules and components are now available. The latest products dramatically increase the number and variety of applications available to consumers today, and range from wireless WAN to TV tuners, gigabit Ethernet, high-capacity data storage, a wireless mouse and expansion solutions.

The latest ExpressCard products will be demonstrated at 10:30 am, Monday, January 8, in Room 701/801 (Marco Polo) of the Venetian at a special PCMCIA press conference.

PCMCIA is also hosting the ExpressCard TechZone Pavilion (68823X) in the Sands Convention Center so CES attendees can see this technology in action.

ExpressCard technology (http://www.expresscard.org/) is the latest high-performance, hardware expansion standard for notebook and desktop computers. It replaces the current PC Card® Standard. ExpressCard and PC Card technologies are found in more than 95 percent of all notebook computers.

Manufacturers who have developed ExpressCard-equipped notebook systems and are exhibiting at CES include ASUS, Apple, Dell, HP, Fujitsu/Siemens, Lenovo, LG Electronics, NEC, Sony and Toshiba. ExpressCard module and component manufacturers at CES include Agere, AVerMedia, Belkin, Duel Systems, ENE Networks, Longwell, Lexar Media, Newton Peripherals and SIIG.

"The penetration of ExpressCard technology in the notebook market has been steadily ramping up," said Richard Shim, senior research analyst, Personal Computing, IDC. "We continue to see growth in the adoption of this technology as developers capitalize on the technology's faster performance capabilities using PCI Express. We expect that consumer adoption of this technology will occur at a more rapid pace as notebook vendors choose ExpressCard technology over PC Cards as their preferred expansion standard."

ExpressCard TechZone exhibitors include:

o Agere. Agere Systems offers a broad portfolio of products for current
and next generation mobile technology, including ExpressCard products.
o Duel Systems. A division of Methode Electronics, Inc., Duel Systems is
a global leader in the design, development, tooling and prototyping of
standard and custom RF packaging and integrated enclosure solutions.
Duel manufactures ExpressCard enclosures and connectors and provides
standard and custom designs in the ExpressCard format.
o ENE Technology. ENE Technology is a professional integrated IC design
house that specializes in portable and other IA products, including
controllers, power switches and keyboard controllers.
o Longwell Company. A global leader of power cord and interconnect
products since 1972, Longwell is announcing its new ExpressCard family
of connector and module cover kits.
o Mobility Technology. Mobility Electronics markets Magma PCI Express
expansion solutions for laptop and desktop computers. The newest
product, Magma ExpressBox, provides a PCI Express slot in an external
box for laptop computers. Many types of PCI Express cards can be used
in the ExpressBox, including graphics, test & measurement, data-
acquisition, audio, video, FibreChannel, SATA and more.
o SIIG. A leading manufacturer of quality computer connectivity products
that bridge the connection between desktop/notebook systems and
external peripherals, SIIG will be displaying serial ATA, Firewire, USB
and serial-port ExpressCard solutions.

To date, 60 companies with 176 products have participated in the ExpressCard Compliance program for systems, modules and components. Of these, 114 products have earned the right to display the ExpressCard logo-an orange rabbit designed to tell consumers that all ExpressCard products are interoperable, hot swappable and plug 'n' play. Compliant products are listed at the ExpressCard Resource Directory and Where to Buy pages at http://www.expresscard.org/

"Consumers can see a wide range of applications at CES, such as a digital TV tuner, hot pluggable adapters for data transfer (Firewire and serial ATA) and gigabit Ethernet modules as well as standard applications such as CompactFlash adapters and flash memory cards," said Brad Saunders, chairman, PCMCIA. "The current wave of complaint products shows that manufacturers have taken advantage of the smaller, faster ExpressCard standard for applications ranging from smart card readers to EV-DO (evolution data optimized) modules. We are thrilled at the variety of products displayed at CES this year."

ExpressCard "plug 'n' play" applications include memory, local area network (LAN), wireless local and wide area network (WLAN, WWAN), memory adapters, parallel adapters, serial adapters, TV tuners, smart card readers, instrumentation, 1394Aa/b (Firewire) and serial ATA (SATA). ExpressCard technology also supports both serial I/O technologies: USB 2.0 and PCI Express.

Dell, Fujitsu, Fujitsu Siemens, HP, Intel, Lenovo, Lexar Media, LG Electronics, Microsoft, Sony, Texas Instruments and Toshiba are among those supporting development of the ExpressCard standard.

About PCMCIA

PCMCIA is a non-profit trade association founded in 1989 to establish technical standards for PC Card technology and to promote interchangeability among computer systems. Already a feature in almost every notebook and palmtop computer, PC Card technology empowers users to configure systems and create unique, integrated solutions to meet their computing needs. Based in San Jose, California, the association has a growing membership of 125 companies worldwide. The PCMCIA also has a specification development and co-publishing relationship with the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) covering PC Card and Smart Media technologies.

Source: PCMCIA

CONTACT:
Mary Hain
Hain Communications
mary@hainpr.com
+1-925-926-0326

Web site:
http://www.pcmcia.org/
http://www.expresscard.org/

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