REPORTS WELL OVER 100 MILLION SENSORS SHIPPED IN 2005
SUNNYVALE, Calif. — January 25, 2006 — OmniVision Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: OVTI), one of the world’s leading suppliers of CMOS image sensors, announced today that this month it has passed the 250 million sensors shipped mark. The historic quarter billion milestone goes hand-in-hand with a record number of products shipped in a year. Calendar year 2005 marked the first time OmniVision has shipped well over 100 million units in a single year.
“We believe this milestone demonstrates OmniVision’s ability to innovate and remain a market leader,” said Raymond Wu, Executive Vice-President and co-founder of OmniVision. “To maintain our market leadership, we recently introduced our OmniPixel®2 architecture. This leading-edge pixel technology enabled OmniVision to launch the industry’s first ¼ inch, 2 megapixel camera chip, which we believe will bring 2 megapixel camera phones into the mainstream.”
“Additionally, OmniVision made significant progress during the year in establishing a broader base for the company,” Wu continued. “We did so by gaining acceptance in a number of newly developing markets such as automotive, security and surveillance, medical, and toys and gaming.”
Throughout the year, OmniVision also made important investments to continue its record-breaking growth. The company expanded its worldwide operations and distribution network and increased its investments in research and development. To expand its presence in the image pipeline, in April 2005, OmniVision acquired CDM Optics, the exclusive licensee of the patented technology known as WaveFront Coding™ (WFC).
“Our strategic investment in WFC through the acquisition of CDM Optics added an exciting growth opportunity,” Wu added. “WFC will provide OmniVision with a sustainable competitive advantage by allowing us to replace the mechanical elements of traditional autofocus systems, significantly reducing the size, complexity and cost of auto-focus functions for camera modules. We are already working with a select group of key customers and expect initial samples of WFC products, which we will call OmniFocus™, in mid-2006.”
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements in this press release, including statements regarding our ability to remain a market leader and continue growth, 2 megapixel camera phones coming into the mainstream, the competitive advantage provided by the acquisition of WFC, 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: competition in current and emerging markets for image sensor products, including pricing pressures; the Company’s ability to obtain design wins from various image sensor device manufacturers including manufacturers of mobile phones and digital still cameras; wafer manufacturing yields and other manufacturing processes; the Company’s ability to accurately forecast customer demand for its products; the development, production, introduction and marketing of new products and technology, the Company’s strategic investments and relationships; 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 its most recent 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.