Press Release
QSound Labs Licenses Its 3D Audio Software to Oak Technology for New DVD Chipse
Oak Technology's OTI19820/OTI 265 Chipset Significantly REduces OEMs Cost
Calgary, Alberta - April 3, 2000 -- QSound Labs, Inc.
(NASDAQ: QSND), a leading supplier of digital and analog audio software
solutions, today announced that Oak Technology (NASDAQ: OAKT) has licensed
QSound's QSurroundTM, QMSSTM and QXpanderTM technologies for its new
OTI-9820/OTI-265 chipset. The chipset is a complete system-on-a-chip based
solution that combines all major DVD-player functions on only two chips
enabling OEMs to produce a more cost-effective product. Samples are now
available and full production is expected in the fall of 2000.
QSurround is a suite of audio algorithms that provide 3D stereo
enhancement and virtual surround sound for a variety of PC/multimedia and
home theatre applications, including DVD players.
"We are very pleased that Oak Technology has chosen our 3D audio
technology for its new DVD chipset," said David Gallagher, President and
CEO, QSound Labs. "The additional competitive advantage that QSound
provides Oak benefits both the OEM and the consumer, offering superior 3D
audio quality in a highly integrated, flexible chipset at an affordable
price."
"The applicability of QSound's audio technology to this particular
application was a natural fit," said Alain Bismuth, Vice President, DVD
Player Program for Oak Technology's Optical Storage Division. "In
addition, QSound was able to cost-effectively deliver us three separate
audio solutions on a single platform."
According to In-Stat, DVD player shipments will exceed 13.5 million units
this year, which represents a 99% increase compared to 1999 and the
average price of a player will reach $200 in the fourth quarter of 2000, a
32% reduction compared to last year. As well, with DVD titles from all
major studios becoming widely available in both rental and sales, the last
major obstacle for DVD players reaching the mass market, according to
In-Stat, is the availability of low-cost players.
About Oak Technology, Inc.:
Founded in 1987 and public since 1995, Oak Technology, Inc. designs,
develops and markets embedded software and semiconductor solutions to
original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) worldwide who serve the optical
storage, consumer electronics and digital imaging markets. Major customers
include Canon, HP, LG Electronics, Minolta, Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba and
Xerox. Oak's principal development sites and located in California,
Massachusetts, Taiwan and Germany. Sales operations are located in Japan,
Taiwan, China and Korea as well as the United States. Additional
information about Oak Technology and its products can be found on the
World Wide Web at www.oaktech.com.
This release contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Act of 1995 concerning, among other things, the anticipated
introduction of new products and future financial results, including
statements made by Mr. Gallagher. Investors are cautioned that such
forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties, which could
cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or
industry results to differ materially from those reflected in the
forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are
not limited to, risks associated with the Company's ability to carry out
its business strategy and marketing plans, availability of sufficient
resources for the Company to timely and cost effectively carry out the
Company's business plans and strategies, dependence on the performance of
third parties who have agreed to market the Company's technologies,
dependence on intellectual property, uncertainties relating to product
development and commercial introduction, rapid technological change and
competition, continued growth of the Internet, general economic and
business conditions and other risks which may be detailed from time to
time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements are based on the current
expectations, projections and opinions of the Company's management, and
the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of
any revisions to such forward-looking statements which may be made, for
example to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to
reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.