November 5, 2001
CDNX: IT
Vancouver, B.C.
BURNABY, B.C. – Icron Technologies Corporation (CDNX: IT), a leading provider of extended range high-performance connectivity technologies for the computer marketplace, announced the commercial availability of its new ExtremeUSB Core DirectLink product. Icron anticipates that the introduction of this product will be instrumental in expanding Icron’s participation in OEM markets for the company’s extended range USB connectivity technology.
With the completed development of the ExtremeUSB Core DirectLink, Icron also announced that its first customer for the product is Gefen Inc., of Woodland Hills, California. Gefen Inc. is a leading developer of computer interconnectivity products and audio management solutions for professional and personal computer users worldwide. Gefen will use Icron’s modules as the basis of its new product line that features extended range USB functionality. Gefen is placing an initial order and with the integration of the ExtremeUSB Core DirectLink modules, will deliver new products to its markets this year. Gefen’s new CAT-1000 and CAT-5000 products will extend USB as well as SVGA connections to 330 feet. The Gefen Inc. website is located at www.gefen.com.
John McLeod, Icron’s Vice-President of Engineering noted: “Our OEM customers are looking for an easy-to-implement, cost-effective solution to extend their USB connections. We believe the ExtremeUSB Core DirectLink delivers on that demand, simply, elegantly and with increased flexibility. We look forward to working with partners such as Gefen, to deliver the ‘core’ part of their new products.”
The ExtremeUSB Core DirectLink product is the centerpiece of Icron’s OEM product strategy. This module is designed to provide maximum flexibility for the company’s OEM partners in their development of highly integrated solutions for their markets. With this first announcement around the ExtremeUSB Core DirectLink product, Icron is facilitating a ‘single-pair’ wire connection. This arrangement is especially valuable for one of Icron’s key vertical markets, the KVM (Keyboard Video Mouse) Switching extension market. The ExtremeUSB Core DirectLink allows the OEM customer to extend the connection between the host computer and USB devices, while using only a single-pair of wires within the Category 5 UTP cable architecture. This economical use of the available wires allows the other wires in the cable to be used to carry video or other signals, along-side the USB traffic. The benefits are a simpler cable layout and significantly lowered equipment costs throughout the user’s system.
Icron is introducing the ExtremeUSB Core DirectLink product to KVM Market customers and other potential customers during the current quarter.
Icron Technologies Corporation of Burnaby, B.C. has invented ExtremeUSB™ technology, a practical means of extending the range of USB 1.1 connections from 5 meters to over 100 meters. Icron has applied for patents covering its inventions and is integrating its technology into a series of products for computing applications. Icron is committed to working with its partners to increase the total market for USB products by enabling a broad set of new applications that utilize ExtremeUSB. Icron is a publicly traded company and trades under the symbol IT on the Canadian Venture Exchange Inc.
Icron Contacts:
Investor Relations: Ashiff Jivraj ashiff.jivraj@icron.com (604) 638-3923
Marketing: Kevin Lee kevin.lee@icron.com (604) 638-3924
Note: The company relies on litigation protection for “forward-looking” statements. The Canadian Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Except for statements of historical fact, all statements in this news release – including, without limitation, statements regarding production 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.