PCMCIA Hosts Largest ExpressCard Interoperability Event Ever

PCMCIA, a leading technology trade association, today announced the successful completion of its fifth ExpressCard Compliance Workshop in Taiwan on Oct. 20, 2005. The event attracted the highest participation to date, with 15 companies testing 32 different products. To date, more than 20 different member companies have submitted 112 ExpressCard products, including 77 host systems and modules, for testing at the interoperability events. Fifty-two products are currently rated as compliant and are able to display the ExpressCard logo, an energetic orange rabbit. ExpressCard(TM) technology (http://www.expresscard.org) is the latest high-performance, hardware expansion standard for desktop and notebook computers. ExpressCard modules give users the ability to add a wide variety of "plug 'n' play" applications to their computers, including memory, local area network (LAN), wireless wide area network (WWAN), Wireless (Bluetooth), memory adapters, parallel adapters, serial adapters, TV tuners, smart card readers, instrumentation, 1394A&B and serial ATA (SATA). ExpressCard technology supports the advanced serial I/O technologies: USB* 2.0 and PCI-Express.* Fifteen PCMCIA member companies participated in workshop #5, with a total of 13 host systems and 19 modules undergoing testing. Participating companies included Belkin, Compal Electronics, Inc., DataFab, SCM Microsystems and SIIG. "We are excited to see more ExpressCard products pass compliance testing and enter the market," said Brad Saunders, chairman, PCMCIA. "The strong participation in this workshop indicates that more vendors are recognizing that a wide variety of applications can be developed using the ExpressCard standard. Interest in ExpressCard technology is definitely picking up steam in the market." In related news, PCMCIA also announced that Allion Computer Inc., Asia's leading independent testing organization, has been approved as the first third-party testing house for ExpressCard products. Allion has facilitated the last two interoperability events in conjunction with PCMCIA. Through Dec. 31, 2005, Allion will be offering a promotional rate of $1,200 to conduct an initial round of product testing. The cost will rise to $1,500 after Jan. 1, 2006. More information is available at http://www.allion.com. "We are pleased to be the first official third-party test facility for ExpressCard products," said Dan Liu, Marketing Manager, Allion. "We now can offer companies an alternative to gain official ExpressCard compliance. As facilitators of the last two compliance workshops and long-time members of PCMCIA, we believe we have proven that we have the experience needed to make this a successful option." Interoperability tests consist of a standardized test procedure conducted between participating host systems and module products in addition to a set of mandatory tests against a "gold" suite of compliant host systems and modules. This process ensures compatibility of compliant ExpressCard products and 'plug'n'play' ease-of-use. Compliant products are listed in a Resource Directory at http://www.expresscard.org. The ExpressCard standard is the next generation of PC Card technology used in more than 95 percent of all notebook computers for adding new hardware capabilities. Dell, HP, Intel, Lexar Media, Microsoft, SCM Microsystems and Texas Instruments are among those supporting development of the new standard under the PCMCIA umbrella. About PCMCIA Founded in 1989, PCMCIA is a non-profit trade association that establishes 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. NOTE: ExpressCard is a trademark of PCMCIA. *All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners

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