O2Micro(R) Receives UK Patent for Pre-boot Authentication Invention

This invention allows or prevents the completion of the boot-upprocedure in microprocessor-based systems based on an informationexchange between the system BIOS software and an information module.Generally, it is useful in controlling logical access to a computersystem by authenticating a user with a security token during the bootsequence. Microprocessor-based systems include desktop and notebookPCs, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), and cellular phones.

"These pre-boot authentication processes illustrate some of thevalue-added that O2Micro delivers to Smart Card reader customers,"said Max Huang, executive vice president of O2Micro's IntelligentE-Commerce business unit. Max continued to comment, "We expect to seeincreased deployment of token-based user authentication as itcomplements the new trend of system-level authentication using TCG(Trusted Computing Group) standards."

About O2Micro

Founded in April 1995, O2Micro develops and markets innovativepower management, and security components and systems for theComputer, Consumer, Industrial, and Communications markets. Productsinclude Intelligent Lighting, Battery Management, Power Management,SmartCardBus(R) and Security products, such as VPN/Firewall systemsolutions.

O2Micro International maintains an extensive portfolio ofintellectual property with 3,004 patent claims granted, and over 5,000more pending. The company maintains offices worldwide. Additionalcompany and product information can be found on the company website atwww.o2micro.com.

O2Micro, the O2Micro logo, SmartCardBus and combinations thereofare registered trademarks of O2Micro.

Statements made in this release that are not historical, includingstatements regarding O2Micro's or management's intentions, hopes,beliefs, expectations, representations, projections, plans orpredictions of the future, are forward-looking statements within themeaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Suchstatements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actualresults to differ materially from those set forth in these statements.Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially includerisks and uncertainties such as reduced demand for products ofelectronic equipment manufacturers which include O2Micro's productsdue to adverse economic conditions in general or specificallyaffecting O2Micro's markets, technical difficulties and delays in thedevelopments process, and errors in the products. You are alsoreferred to the Form F-1 in connection with the company's initialpublic offering in August 2000, Form F-3 in connection with thecompany's public offering in November 2001, and the annual reports onForm 20-F, which identify important risk factors that could causeactual results to differ from those contained in the forward-lookingstatements. The company assumes no obligation to update or revise anyforward-looking information, whether as a result of new information,future events or otherwise.