Seagate and HarmanBecker Announce Collaboration for Automotive Media Server Applications Using D.A.V.E.(TM) Technology


Seagate D.A.V.E. technology allows automobile OEMs the ability to provide customers with more storage for movies, music, games and more

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif., Jan. 7-- Seagate Technology (NYSE:STX) and HarmanBecker Automotive Systems, a division of Harman International Industries (NYSE:HAR), announce today plans to incorporate Seagate D.A.V.E.(TM) Technology into future Multimedia System applications which will give automotive manufacturers the ability to provide their customers a storage upgrade enabled by industry standard wireless and communications protocols. The technology will be featured on the Harman designed Chrysler MyGig multimedia system at the Seagate booth during CES in Las Vegas.

Seagate's Digital Audio Video Experience(TM) (D.A.V.E.) is a technology platform that provides substantial wireless storage capacity for digital files such as standard and high-definition movies, TV programs, music, games and more. The technology platform allows automotive manufacturers the ability to offer multiple passengers a way to consume their own unique digital content throughout the vehicle. The trend for taking digital content on the go has become a top priority for digital consumers. Seagate's D.A.V.E. Technology is an ideal way to decouple the consumer electronics lifecycle from the automotive lifecycle, allowing users to experience their digital content in an automobile in a much more timely fashion.

"This collaboration by Seagate and HarmanBecker is a huge leap forward in closing the gap between the automotive and consumer electronics lifecycles enabling consumers the ability to experience their digital content in their vehicles," said Patrick King, senior vice president and general manager of Seagate's Consumer Electronics Business Unit. "Seagate's D.A.V.E Technology enables wireless storage for many different applications, with the automotive market being one of them."

"This joint effort is in direct response to our customers' need for in-vehicle, scalable media storage solutions. Lower audio compression ratios along with the emergence of digitally distributed video make this need more apparent. The D.A.V.E. device provides an effective bridge between stationary content sources and mobile consumption environments like the vehicle," said Dr. Erich Geiger, chief technical officer, Harman International Industries. "The ability to move and consume content freely is a definite advantage for our future platforms and should increase our end customer satisfaction proportionately."

On-The-Go Unified Content Management

The increasing demand for mobile content is overwhelming to some people. There are one billion digital still and digital phone cameras in the world; in 2006 they accounted for 250 billion created images. According to Frost & Sullivan, the number of mobile video download subscribers will jump to nearly five million in 2010. Consumers want to manage this commercial and user-generated content, but how is this done? Using Bluetooth(1) or WiFi(2) and built for portability anywhere up to approximately 30 feet (9.1 meters) from a mobile device, the Seagate D.A.V.E. mobile platform with 60GB of storage capacity provides consumers with a centralized hub to bring their primary digital content with them.

About Seagate

Seagate is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of hard disc drives, providing products for a wide-range of applications, including Enterprise, Desktop, Mobile Computing, Consumer Electronics and Branded Solutions. Seagate's business model leverages technology leadership and world-class manufacturing to deliver industry-leading innovation and quality to its global customers, as it strives to be the low cost producer in all markets in which it participates. The company is committed to providing award-winning products, customer support and reliability to meet the world's growing demand for information storage. Seagate can be found around the globe and at http://www.seagate.com/.

About HarmanBecker Automotive Systems

HarmanBecker Automotive Systems a division of Harman International Industries, Incorporated engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of audio, electronic, and infotainment systems for vehicle applications primarily to be installed as original equipment by automotive manufacturers. Its infotainment systems include GPS based HDD and DVD navigation, traffic information, voice-activated telephone and climate control, rear seat entertainment, HDD media servers, compressed (MP3) and high resolution audio playback, and premium branded audio systems, as well as produces personal navigation devices. http://harman.com/.

One gigabyte, or GB, equals one billion bytes when referring to hard drive capacity. One terabyte, or TB, equals 1,000 gigabytes when referring to hard drive capacity. Accessible capacity may vary depending on operating environment and formatting. Quantitative usage examples for various applications are for illustrative purposes. Actual quantities will vary based on various factors, including file size, file format, features and application software.

(1) Bluetooth 2.0

(2) WiFi 802.11b and 802.11g

Source: Seagate Technology

CONTACT: Colleen Rodriguez, +1-831-439-2499, colleen.rodriguez@seagate.com, or Woody Monroy, +1-831-439-2838, woody.monroy@seagate.com, both of Seagate Technology

Web site: http://www.seagate.com/
http://harman.com/

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