E-paper display supplier E Ink joins e-book processor provider Freescale to develop integrated processors that lower costs, foster innovation for e-book markets

Sandy Yang

AUSTIN, Texas, and CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts , October 20, 2009 (press release) – The industry’s top provider of processors for eBooks has joined forces with the leading supplier of eBook electronic paper displays to develop highly integrated embedded solutions that lower costs and foster innovation for eBook manufacturers and their customers.

Freescale Semiconductor and E Ink Corporation have agreed to jointly develop system-on-a-chip (SoC) solutions that integrate Freescale’s i.MX processor technology with E Ink’s Vizplex® display controller. The partnership is designed to lower costs and expand the ecosystem of supporting electronics for the eBook market. The collaboration also is expected to spark innovation for emerging product categories such as eNewspapers, tablet PCs, laptop secondary displays, eNotebooks and eDictionaries.

"Our aim is to provide the world’s best digital reading experience,” said Sriram Peruvemba, vice president of marketing for E Ink Corporation. “E Ink’s joint development work with Freescale will enable several new markets, including eNewspapers and eTextbooks.”

According to a 2009 DisplaySearch report, eBook unit shipments are expected to grow from one million units in 2008 to more than 75 million units in 2018 with a value of approximately $3.8 billion. Market drivers include new eBooks in the market, international expansion of eBook availability, anticipated price declines and the electronic distribution of newspapers and textbooks.

"Freescale is the world’s leading supplier of processors for the fast-growing eBook market,” said Glen Burchers, marketing director of Freescale’s Consumer Segment. “Integrating E Ink’s market-leading electronic paper display controller with i.MX processor technology will result in lower-cost, sleeker form factor eBooks – a great combination for consumers.”

“We are very excited to see this cooperation,” said Johnson Lee, vice president of Prime View International. “The market demand for electronic paper displays has outpaced even the most optimistic market projections, with many new companies around the world entering the eBook reader market. This cooperation between E Ink and Freescale is an exciting next step in enabling this trend to continue.”

About E Ink Corporation

E Ink Corporation is the world's leading supplier of electronic paper display (EPD) technologies. E Ink's technology is ideal for many consumer and industrial applications spanning handheld devices, eBooks, eNewspapers, PC-accessories, public information displays and promotional signs. E Ink is a private corporation that includes among its investors and strategic partners Air Products and Chemicals, ChiLin Technology, Epson, Hearst Corp, Intel Capital, LG Display, Motorola, Philips, Prime View International, Toppan Printing Co and Wacom. E Ink's customers include Amazon, Casio, Citizen, Hanwang, Hitachi, iRex, Lexar, Plastic Logic, Samsung and Sony. Recently, E Ink has signed an agreement to merge with Prime View International (8069: TWO) with the intent to close the merger by December 2009. E Ink news can be found at: www.eink.com.

About Freescale Semiconductor

Freescale Semiconductor is a global leader in the design and manufacture of embedded semiconductors for the automotive, consumer, industrial and networking markets. The privately held company is based in Austin, Texas, and has design, research and development, manufacturing or sales operations around the world. http://www.freescale.com.

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