Zoran Introduces APPROACH 5, Industry's Most Cost-Effective SOC for Mobile Phone Market at 3GSM 2006

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Zoran Corporation
announced its next generation family of APPROACH mobile multimedia processors
incorporates Zoran's leading edge Digital Camera Image Signal Processing (ISP)
capabilities along with other leading multimedia features into the industry's
most cost-effective SOC for the mobile phone market. Zoran is demonstrating
its first APPROACH 5 system-based platforms at 3GSM 2006.
With the integration of Zoran's COACH ISP, the APPROACH 5 processors allow
handset makers to deliver camera phones with image quality that rivals digital
still cameras and also offers real time video capture. The APPROACH 5 solution
allows mobile phones to support image sensors as large as 5MP. These phones
will also be able to offer 30 frames per second (fps) full VGA resolution
digital video MPEG4 capture and playback. Additional multimedia features
include decoding of mobile DTV and other H.264 low bit rate video streaming,
3D gaming hardware acceleration, TV out, and digital mobile TV support. The
APPROACH 5 family also integrates a Global Positioning System (GPS) baseband,
enabling location-based services in handsets.
"We are proud to announce the APPROACH 5 family of processors that
integrate our popular image signal processing technology. With the addition of
this proven technology from our digital camera group, we are enabling our
handset customers to quickly deliver new multimedia mobile phones that capture
much higher quality digital still photos and video clips. TV steaming support
also promises to become popular with consumers," said Coby Sella, vice
president and general manager at Zoran's Mobile division.
"The multimedia mobile phone market segment is expected to increase
dramatically from 88 million units in 2005 to about 269 million units in 2008,
representing 30 percent of the total worldwide mobile phone shipments in 2008
"said Mario Morales, semiconductor industry analyst at IDC. "This growth will
be driven by cost-effective multimedia processors for handsets that enable
innovative imaging and multimedia features for consumers."
Current mobile phones generally offer poor picture taking quality. The
image capture capability of the new APPROACH 5 processors offers the five
megapixel quality photographers find in Japanese branded 5 mega pixel digital
cameras.
The APPROACH 5 solutions include reference designs and the entire software
applications suite needed for enabling all the popular features of multimedia
phones for global markets. To ease migration for handset makers, all APPROACH
5 family products share the same 10x10 mm package configuration.
In addition, mobile phone battery life is improved with the smart system
power saving design and the use of advanced 90nm process technology. Mobile
SDRAM is embedded within the 10x10 mm package, eliminating the need for an
additional on board component.
APPROACH 5 processors will be presented at Zoran's suite at 3GSM 2006,
February 13-16, located in Hall 4, Level 5, number 5.06, Fira la Barcelona,
Spain.

About Zoran Corporation
Zoran Corporation, based in Sunnyvale, California, is a leading provider
of digital solutions in the growing digital entertainment and digital imaging
markets. With two decades of expertise developing and delivering digital
signal processing technologies, Zoran has pioneered high-performance digital
audio and video, imaging applications and Connect and Share technologies for
the digital home. Zoran's proficiency in integration delivers major benefits
for OEM customers, including greater capabilities within each product
generation, reduced system costs, and shorter time to market. Zoran-based DVD,
digital camera, DTV, multimedia mobile phone, and multifunction printer
products have received recognition for excellence and are now in hundreds of
millions of homes and offices worldwide. With headquarters in the U.S. and
operations in Canada, China, England, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, Korea,
and Taiwan, Zoran may be contacted on the World Wide Web at http://www.zoran.com or
at 408-523-6500.

NOTE: Zoran, the Zoran logo, and APPROACH are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Zoran Corporation and its subsidiaries in the United States or
other countries. All other names and brands may be claimed as property of
others.