BURNABY, B.C., November 14, 2006 – Icron Technologies Corporation (TSX Venture: IT), the developers of ExtremeUSB, continue to expand the market for USB extension and wireless USB applications.
In the wired extension market, the company has enjoyed record growth and revenues for USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 extension in KVM, Remote Desktop, Presentation Systems and Media Server applications. Icron recently announced a development partnership with Inova Semiconductor to launch the first integrated DVI/USB over CAT5 extension solution and reference design, and has already deployed this solution with customers in the industrial control market. For more details, read the press release here.
Icron is also progressing in the Wireless USB 2.0 space and is soon to complete a Cable Free USB 2.0 hub solution based on an industry standard 802.11g platform. In addition they have entered a joint development agreement with Global Interface Technologies (GiT) to offer USB connectivity over GiT’s short range UWB platform. For more details, click here.
The ExtremeUSB based Cable Free USB architecture, developed in partnership with Freescale Semiconductor, is being ported over to other UWB and 802.11 platforms and will result in solutions available to the market 2007. While the UWB market is in its infancy and it will take time to see substantial order volumes, Icron will continue to assist UWB companies to offer true wireless USB 2.0 functionality. Our immediate focus on using 802.11g chipsets for a Wireless USB 2.0 solution will address a number of shortcomings with current UWB solutions including, lower cost, improved range, maturity of technology, international regulatory approvals and general market acceptance.
Since February 2006, Icron has been shipping the USB 2.0 Ranger product line, the industry’s only wired USB 2.0 extension solution. All of the Ranger products are based on Icron’s patented ExtremeUSB technology, which manages the very strict transmit/acknowledge timing on the USB interface to allow native USB extension over any physical media. ExtremeUSB is the only USB-IF compliant extension solution and is deployed globally in a wide range of applications including: industrial automation, medical devices, aerospace, KVM and computer networking. All ExtremeUSB Ranger™ products support all USB device types, are fully plug and play requiring no software drivers, and support multiple operating systems including Windows, Mac O/S, Linux, Solaris and Unix. All Icron solutions are available as fully packaged product or as OEM solutions spanning from white labelled complete units, to turnkey hardware, embedded cores, and design licenses.
As previously mentioned, Icron continues to expand out of its traditional niche identifying partnership opportunities with companies developing complimentary applications in the Video extension market. The combination of USB and Video extended over a single media such as CAT5, Fiber, Coax or even Powerline represents a growing market opportunity that Icron is working to define and deliver on. Their first partner, Inova Semiconductor, delivers DVI extension over Cat5, and in working with Icron, they have added USB 1.1 connectivity over the same link. Other partners have developed Video over USB 2.0 solutions, which are complementary to the existing USB 2.0 Ranger product line. These solutions address, Remote Desktop, KVM Extension (Keyboard, Video and Mouse), and digital home media server applications.
With upwards of 2 Billion USB ports currently deployed and another 2 Billion forecast to be deployed by 2009, there is tremendous upside to the market potential for USB extension in the future. Robert Eisses, President and CEO states, “We are executing on our 802.11 and UWB wireless programs, continuing to upgrade our market leading USB 2.0 solutions, and researching ASIC and software solutions to enhance our product line in the future.” For the remainder of 2006, the company will focus on two key areas: expanding its distribution for its traditional packaged and OEM products in Asia and other markets and engaging with more partners and customers with wireless USB solutions on a variety of RF platforms.
About Icron Technologies Corporation www.icron.com
Icron Technologies Corporation’s patented ExtremeUSB® technology extends the range of USB in wired environments and enables wireless USB over any RF technology. ExtremeUSB is the only USB-IF compliant extension solution and is deployed globally in a wide range of applications including: industrial automation, medical device, aerospace, KVM and computer networking. ExtremeUSB technology is available in a variety of formats including technology licenses, OEM modules, developer kits, as well as branded and private-label products.
Icron is a publicly traded corporation and trades under the symbol “IT” on the TSX Venture Exchange. For more information on the company and its products, please visit www.icron.com
Contact Information
| Icron Media Contact | |
| Brigitta Shore brigitta.shore@icron.com |
Phone: +1 604-729-9479 |
| The Howard Group | |
| David Gordon, Investor Relations for Icron david@howardgroupinc.com For more information: Click Here. |
Phone: 403-221-0915 Fax: 403-237-8387 |
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Except for statements of historical fact, all statements in this news release — including, without limitation, statements regarding financial estimates and future plans and objectives of Icron — are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.