1/2/2008 6:30:00 AM
Ultra-thin laser projector prototype with connectivity to mobile
phones, PDAs, PMPs, digital cameras and laptops to be displayed during CES 2008
REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jan. 2, 2008–Microvision
(NASDAQ:MVIS), developer of light-scanning technologies for display
and imaging products, will unveil at the Consumer Electronics Show
(CES) in Las Vegas next week an advanced prototype of the first
handheld, battery-powered, ‘plug-and-play’ projector based on the
company’s single micro-mirror laser scanning display technology.
Code-named SHOW(TM), Microvision’s stand-alone pico projector
intended for mobile device applications, is powered by the company’s
proprietary ultra-miniature PicoP(TM) display engine. Microvision will
preview the PDA-sized, fully self-contained, battery operated,
full-color laser projector to select global OEMs, mobile carriers,
content providers, development partners and members of the media.
SHOW connects directly to laptops, mobile phones, portable media
players (PMPs), digital cameras and other mobile devices to project
large, high-resolution images and video onto any surface. The images
projected can range anywhere from 12 inches (30 cm) to 100 inches (2.5
m) in size depending upon the projection distance and are always in
focus. The production version of the device is expected to offer
approximately 2.5 hours of continuous battery life, sufficient to
watch a full-length movie without a need for recharging.
Microvision says that SHOW can project a widescreen, WVGA (848 X
480 pixels), DVD quality image — offering a very different experience
from the tiny 2-inch display solutions available today on various
portable devices. Designed for viewing high-quality projected images
in a variety of controlled lighting environments, SHOW offers more
than five times the resolution compared with competing miniature
projectors that typically only offer QVGA resolution (320 x 240
pixels).
At the heart of SHOW is Microvision’s PicoP display engine,
measuring close to 5 cc in volume and approximately 7 mm thick
(approximately the size of a thin mint chocolate candy). Microvision
envisions the PicoP display engine being used not only in stand-alone
accessory products like SHOW, but also embedded directly into mobile
consumer products.
“Consumers want better display solutions that will enrich their
experience in watching TV, videos and movies, in playing games, and in
browsing the web from their cell phones and other mobile devices,”
points out Alexander Tokman, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Microvision. “While mobile multi-media subscription services are on
the rise, handset manufacturers, content providers and service
providers view tiny cell phone displays as a barrier to stronger
consumer adoption of their products and services. With Microvision’s
SHOW you could view and share everything ranging from YouTube videos,
MSN newscasts, and Google search results to PowerPoint presentations,
feature-length films, and family photos in a large, full-color,
hi-resolution format instead of a 2-inch, QVGA display.”
“SHOW is a significant milestone for Microvision and is proof that
our technology is maturing according to plan and is close to being
market-ready. Microvision’s low-profile and low-power design,
supported by leading supply chain partners, is very attractive to
numerous mobile handset device manufactures, carriers and content
providers. We believe that this milestone is meaningful not only for
our company but for the industry at large,” concluded Tokman.
Microvision’s advanced prototypes of SHOW will be available in
limited quantities to select OEM and carrier partners for customer
feedback and applications development in the first half of 2008. The
release of a commercial product is targeted for the end of 2008.
Demonstrations of SHOW will be held during CES 2008, and again at the
3GSM conference in Barcelona in February 2008.
About Microvision (www.microvision.com)
Microvision provides a display technology platform to enable
next-generation display and imaging products for pico projectors,
vehicles displays, and wearable displays that interface to mobile
devices. The company also manufactures and sells its bar code scanner
product line which features the company’s proprietary MEMS technology.
Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer
Certain statements contained in this release, including those
relating to product benefits and performance, timing of product
releases, and product applications, as well as statements containing
words like “expects,” “could,” “believes” and other similar
expressions, are forward-looking statements that involve a number of
risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those projected in the Company’s
forward-looking statements include the following: our ability to raise
additional capital when needed; our financial and technical resources
relative to those of our competitors; our ability to keep up with
rapid technological change; our dependence on the defense industry and
a limited number of government development contracts; government
regulation of our technologies; our ability to enforce our
intellectual property rights and protect our proprietary technologies;
the ability to obtain additional contract awards; the timing of
commercial product launches and delays in product development; the
ability to achieve key technical milestones in key products;
dependence on third parties to develop, manufacture, sell and market
our products; potential product liability claims and other risk
factors identified from time to time in the Company’s SEC reports,
including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC.
Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, we
undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events, changes in circumstances or any other reason.
CONTACT: Microvision
Matt Nichols (media), 425-882-6657
Tiffany Bradford (investors), 425-936-6847
or
Vetrano Communications
Lisa Figlioli (media), 203-625-0082
public relations representative
SOURCE: Microvision