Texas Instruments and Thomson Showcase Video over IP Services in Inaugural IPTV Zone at IBC 2007

DALLAS and PARIS, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) and Thomson (Euronext 18453; NYSE: TMS) are working together to create inventive products for digital video customers based on TI's DaVinci(TM) technology and Thomson's leading expertise in digital video technologies. This is perfectly illustrated in the WiFi Tablet, launched by Thomson in March of this year, which brings more flexibility and advanced features to the video market. By leveraging the flexibility of TI's DaVinci technology, Thomson's WiFi Tablet forms an integral part of an innovative home-networking ecosystem offered to operators and which enables them to expand the breadth of broadband services accessible to consumers.

The first DaVinci-based product resulting from TI's collaboration with Thomson, the WiFi Tablet, is based on TI's TMS320DM6441 processor. It is designed to help operators enhance the services they can offer to customers by delivering IPTV wirelessly around the home. With an 8-inch, 800 x 480 resolution, widescreen display and high-quality stereo speakers, the device offers consumers a balance between portability and an excellent audio visual experience.

As IPTV operators look to differentiate themselves based on breadth and quality of services, not just price, Thomson's portable WiFi tablet is designed to help provide customers with a multi-room IPTV video on-demand and broadband entertainment experience, without the need to deploy multiple set- top boxes and associated cabling or for the customer to own a personal computer. By serving as a wireless music player and digital picture frame, the WiFi tablet enables consumers to enjoy advanced features beyond video. Additionally it is also a display for RSS feeds.

"Thomson's collaboration with TI has helped us to lead the market in the development of a variety of home networking and digital entertainment products," said Bruno Fabre, vice president of the Premises Systems business unit at Thomson. "Our WiFi multimedia tablet is a great example of how we work alongside TI and incorporate their DaVinci technology. Together we have developed a product that is an excellent mix of performance, flexibility and power efficiency, all ready for the ultimate home user experience."

Industry-Leading Technology

By utilizing TI's DM6441 processor, digital media software, development tools and support, Thomson was able to develop an innovative new product for the market ahead of the competition. The DM6441 is an SoC that consists of an ARM9(R) core and a TMS320C64x+(TM) digital signal processor (DSP) core plus video/imaging co-processors. Thomson's WiFi tablet also incorporates TI's digital media software, including H.264 and MP3, which was already optimized for the DM6441 and could be easily tested and implemented with the DM644x Digital Video Evaluation Module (DVEVM). In addition, Thomson leveraged TI Analog expertise, by using power management companion ICs, optimized for DaVinci technology.

TI's approach to providing an integrated system solution in DaVinci technology furthered Thomson's goal of achieving the best performance, quality and power efficiency in their innovative and feature-rich portable multimedia terminal in the fastest possible development cycle. "Texas Instruments is driving the adoption of digital video technology into an increasingly wide array of consumer home-networking applications," said Jean Claude Baumer, DSP Systems director for EMEA, TI. "By providing an integrated system solution through DaVinci technology, we are able to work with Thomson to design cost-effective, power-efficient digital video products and bring them to market quickly."

Thomson expects operators to begin shipping the WiFi table in the second half of 2007. For more information on DaVinci technology, please see http://www.thedavincieffect.com/.

About Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments Incorporated provides innovative digital signal processing (DSP) and analog technologies to meet our customers' real- world signal processing requirements. In addition to semiconductors, the company's businesses include Educational and Productivity Solutions. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing, design or sales operations in more than 25 countries.

Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located on the World Wide Web at http://www.ti.com/.

About Thomson - World leader in digital video technologies

Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS) provides technology, services, and systems & equipment to help its Media & Entertainment clients - content creators, content distributors and users of its technology - realize their business goals and optimize their performance in a rapidly changing technology environment. The Group is the preferred partner to the Media & Entertainment Industries through its Technicolor, Grass Valley, RCA, and Thomson brands. For more information: http://www.thomson.net/.

Trademarks

DaVinci and TMS320C64x+ are trademarks of Texas Instruments. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.