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STMicroelectronics Announces Immediate Availability of Fully-Certified DVB-MHP Reference Design for Digital Set Top Boxes

Posted on: Tuesday, 29 June 2004, 06:00 CDT

GENEVA, June 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STMicroelectronics , the leading supplier of integrated circuits for digital set-top boxes (STBs), today announced the availability of a complete hardware and software reference design that targets the expanding market for digital TV services requiring the DVB-MHP (Digital Video Broadcast -- Multimedia Home Platform) middleware. The reference design comprises ST's successful STi5517 MPEG-2 decoder, a choice of satellite or terrestrial demodulators, a comprehensive suite of software drivers, and a fully-certified DVB-MHP software stack which includes a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). The hardware elements are packaged on an inexpensive two-layer pc-board, for which complete schematics are also available.

The STi5517 combines, on a single chip, an ST20 CPU, MPEG-2 video and audio decoders, transport interfaces, advanced security, and many of the peripherals required by today's STBs. By taking advantage of this high level of integration, ST's customers can design cost-effective products that meet the needs of consumers worldwide.

The DVB-MHP standard defines generic interfaces between the underlying STB hardware, the interactive TV applications, and the broadcast network. DVB-MHP applications can therefore be delivered via cable, satellite, or terrestrial networks with minimal change to the underlying hardware and software. ST's software stack not only meets the requirements of all services currently using MHP by being compliant with Enhanced and Interactive Profiles of DVB-MHP 1.0.2, but also includes code to implement the more recently published DVB-MHP 1.0.3 specification. The stack features a customizable user interface that manufacturers can adapt to reflect their brand. The reference design provides full support for downloaded applications and the ability to add proprietary extensions through standard interfaces.

"The key component of the new reference design that ensures our customers' products are brought to market in the shortest possible time is the pre- integrated, fully-certified DVB-MHP software stack," said Christos Lagomichos, General Manager of ST's Set Top Box Division. "The availability of this software gives set-top box manufacturers the opportunity to obtain all the core hardware and software components for their products from ST, saving them time and money from both the administrative and engineering perspectives."

Customers for the new reference design can take advantage of ST's modular approach and address both terrestrial and satellite services by choosing one of ST's proven demodulator products. The STV0360 terrestrial and STV0299 satellite demodulators have been widely deployed and provide a glue-less interface to the STi5517 decoder. The STB6000 tuner chip completes ST's silicon offering for satellite STBs.

"The availability of interchangeable front-end modules ensures our reference design can be applied to all DVB-MHP services with minimal change to the underlying hardware," continued Lagomichos. "The software architecture also reflects this modular structure, so customers can address different markets with minimal engineering effort."

By using STAPI (ST's Application Programming Interface) as the underlying driver layer over the STi5517 hardware, ST provides customers with a simple migration path to other MPEG decoders in the ST product range, allowing them to take advantage of the increased performance and feature set of that comes with each new generation of devices. ST has licensed STAPI to manufacturers worldwide and it is currently being deployed in many high volume STBs.

About STMicroelectronics

STMicroelectronics is a global leader in developing and delivering semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications. An unrivalled combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength, Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners positions the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and its products play a key role in enabling today's convergence markets. The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on Euronext Paris and on the Milan Stock Exchange. In 2003, the Company's net revenues were $7.24 billion and net earnings were $253 million. Further information on ST can be found at http://www.st.com/.

STMicroelectronics

CONTACT: INVESTOR RELATIONS - Stanley March, Vice President, InvestorRelations, +1-212-821-8939, fax +1-212-821-8923, stan.march@st.com, orFabrizio Rossini, Senior Manager, Investor Relations, +41-22-929-69-73, fax+41-22-929-69-61, fabrizio.rossini@st.com, or Benoit de Leusse, Director,Investor Relations, +41-22-929-58-12, fax +41-22-929-69-61,benoit.de-leusse@st.com; MEDIA RELATIONS - Maria Grazia Prestini, Director,Corporate Media Relations, +41-2-29-29-69-45, fax +41-2-29-29-69-50,mariagrazia.prestini@st.com, or Michael Markowitz, Director, U.S. MediaRelations, +1-212-821-8959, fax +1-212-821-8922, michael.markowitz@st.com, allof STMicroelectronics

Web site: http://www.st.com/

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