Features - Storage Innovations:

FirstBIOS ENABLES USB 2.0 HIGH-SPEED MASS STORAGE DEVICES

Phoenix Technologies Ltd, a global leader in device-enabling and management software products for connected digital devices, has announced that its FirstBIOS has been enhanced to boot high-speed USB 2.0 devices without requiring the installation of operating system (OS) drivers. VIA Technologies INC, a leading innovator and developer of PC core logic chipsets, microprocessors, and multimedia, communications, optical media and networking chips, will license the technology.

The enhanced FirstBIOS adds extensibility of USB peripherals directly through the BIOS, delivering faster connection, high-speed data transfers, fast OS loading, direct CD/DVD access, or disaster recovery for external USB devices such as disk drives and CD-ROMs. USB 2.0 extends the popular USB interface by increasing the data rate 40 times to 480Mbps, while retaining complete backwards compatibility with the previous USB 1.1 standard interface and USB compatible devices.

"We are delighted to be working with Phoenix in enabling innovative features such as the high-speed USB 2.0 boot functionality using our USB 2.0 host controller from our new VIA VT8235 South Bridge," said Ted Lee, vice president of sales and marketing for VIA Technologies Inc. "This unique technology not only increases the performance of USB 2.0 devices, but it also greatly enhances the user experience."

"VIA is a leading supplier of motherboard solutions, chipsets, and CPUs for motherboard makers around the world," said Timothy D. Eades, senior vice president and general manager, Corporate Marketing and Products Division at Phoenix. "Our partnership with VIA and other chip vendors places Phoenix in a strategic position to service the global computing market."

About VIA Technologies Inc

VIA Technologies Inc is a leading innovator and developer of PC core logic chipsets, microprocessors, and multimedia, communications, optical media and networking chips. VIA delivers value to the PC industry by designing, marketing, and selling high-performance VIA Apollo core logic chipsets for the full range of PC platforms, and cost-effective VIA C3 processors for Value PCs and Internet Appliances, as well as developing complete solutions for the PC platform through its VPSD Business Unit. Its customers include the world's top OEMs, mainboard manufacturers, and system integrators. VIA is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, at the center of the Greater China high-tech manufacturing engine, and has branch offices in the U.S., China and Europe. Additional information can be found at www.via.com.tw.

About Phoenix

Phoenix Technologies; Founded in 1979, Phoenix is a global leader in device-enabling and management software products for PCs and other connected digital devices. Its FirstWare family of "instant on" software activates, secures, connects, and recovers digital devices and is designed into millions of industry standard desktop, notebook, server, and information appliance systems sold annually. This enables Phoenix customers-specifiers, developers, and manufacturers of user-driven microprocessor systems-to reduce costs and provide high value-added features to their customers. Headquartered in San Jose, California, Phoenix Technologies has offices worldwide. For more information about Phoenix Technologies, visit our Web site at www.phoenix.com/.

CONTACT: Syreeta Mussante, 415-856-5148, Smussante@blancandotus.com.