SUNNYVALE, Calif. — May 30, 2006 — OmniVision Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: OVTI), one of the world’s leading suppliers of CMOS image sensors, today announced that Kyocera Wireless Corp., a leading global supplier of CDMA wireless handsets and devices, will use OmniVision CameraChips™ for new camera phones slated for release in the second half of 2006, including the 1.3 Megapixel K340 Series and the VGA-resolution K320 Series.
“At Kyocera Wireless we believe deeply in the genius of simplicity, whether it’s the intuitive handsets we design and sell or the enabling technologies we source from companies like OmniVision,” said Jim Kelly, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Kyocera Wireless Corp. “OmniVision has done an excellent job of providing leading-edge CMOS image sensor technology in form factors that meet our exact requirements and provide the best performance and the highest image quality.”
The new phones from Kyocera Wireless will feature both VGA and 1.3 Megapixel resolution cameras. Some will utilize a smart socket design that allows interchangeability between OmniVision’s VGA and 1.3 megapixel sensors, giving Kyocera Wireless extra flexibility to better meet the specific design requirements of its carriers and their customers. The Kyocera camera phone designs will serve CDMA network customers around the world including in the North American, Latin American and Indian markets.
Industry analysts at Strategy Analytics estimate the total number of wireless subscribers worldwide will nearly double from 1.39 billion at the end of 2003 to 2.1 billion users by the end of 2009. They also project CDMA to grow from 180 million to more than 400 million users during this same period, which would make it the world’s fastest growing wireless technology. A significant part of this growth will result from 3G CDMA technology that allows for increased efficiency and speed in delivering feature-rich content across networks.
“This growth is largely driven by the expansion of next-generation data networks necessary to support enhanced data speeds, handset features and technologies in demand by consumers worldwide,” said Jess Lee, Vice President of Mainstream Products at OmniVision. “We are delighted that we will be working with Kyocera to meet the cutting-edge requirements for these consumers.”
“This relationship also expands our presence in the very attractive Latin American and Indian markets, which are still in the early stages of mass-market adoption of camera phones,” Lee added. “OmniVision looks forward to supporting Kyocera’s already strong market position in these CDMA markets.”
Kyocera Wireless’ new camera phones will take advantage of OmniVision’s proprietary OmniPixel® technology platform, which has proven critical in meeting customers’ high image-quality requirements. The OmniPixel® technology’s unique pixel architecture significantly increases signal-to-noise ratio, making these camera chips perform exceptionally well in low-light conditions. The sensors provide full-frame, sub-sampled, scaled or windowed 8-bit/10-bit images in a wide range of formats controlled through a serial camera control bus (SCCB) interface. All required image processing functions including exposure control, gamma, white balance, color saturation, hue control, white pixel cancelling and noise cancelling are programmable through the SCCB interface.
Safe-Harbor Language
Certain statements in this press release, including statements regarding the performance, achievements and capabilities of OmniPixel® and its CMOS image sensors, the demand for products that incorporate OmniPixel® and the Company’s CMOS image sensors and the potential growth of the CDMA market, are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties, which could cause the forward-looking statements and OmniVision’s results to differ materially, include, without limitation: potential errors, design flaws or other problems with OmniPixel® or OmniVision’s CMOS image sensors; risks associated with building customer acceptance of and demand for OmniPixel®; the development of the market for CMOS sensors in the camera phone market as well as in markets for other portable applications incorporating image sensors; the rapid changes in technical requirements for camera phone products; competitive risks; as well as other risks detailed from time to time in OmniVision’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including, but not limited to, OmniVision’s most recent annual report filed on Form 10-K and quarterly report filed on form 10-Q. OmniVision expressly disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise