Sonic Focus Makes its Revolutionary Audio Enhancement Technology Available on ARC Sound and ARC Sound Advanced Subsystems

LAKE TAHOE, Calif., February 12, 2008 – Sonic Focus, an ARC International (LSE: ARK) company, today announced that it will deliver its award-winning audio enhancement technology on the ARC® Sound and ARC Sound Advanced subsystems used today in numerous SoC solutions.  Accordingly, Sonic Focus will port and optimize their audio post-processing algorithms and software to ARC’s audio platforms, which will be available for licensing directly by OEM companies worldwide.  The combination of Sonic Focus’s and ARC’s solutions will enable unsurpassed audio fidelity for consumers using a wide range of electronic products including mobile handsets, and car audio and home theater systems.  This announcement is part of the acquisition of Sonic Focus by ARC International that was disclosed today.  For more information about the acquisition, see companion announcement released from ARC International dated February 12, 2008.

“The ARC Sound and ARC Sound Advanced Subsystems are ideal hardware platforms that will allow Sonic Focus’s audio enhancement technology to penetrate deeper into consumer electronics market,” said Tom Paddock, former president and CEO of Sonic Focus and currently ARC’s vice president of audio systems.   “Together, ARC and Sonic Focus will enable consumer electronics manufacturers to deliver studio quality sound while achieving a greater degree of differentiation in their end device.”

Bill Jackson, ARC’s vice president of marketing, added, “We’re excited to have Sonic Focus supporting the ARC audio subsystems.  The availability of the Sonic Focus technology will allow ARC’s SoC customers to differentiate their silicon from others in the highly competitive audio marketplace.”  

Sonic Focus was recently awarded 2008 CES innovations honors in the audio components category for the Bel Canto ULTRA-DOCK, a premium iPod docking solution for audio enthusiasts.  Sonic Focus technology is currently available in millions of desktop PCs and laptops worldwide.   A video interview with Sonic Focus’s CEO Tom Paddock at CES is available below

About Sonic Focus
Sonic Focus, an ARC International company, is a leader in digital audio enhancement technology.  The company’s goal is to bring music enthusiasts closer to the original performance with the highest-quality audio experience possible.  Sonic Focus began in the 1990’s by working with pioneering musicians to improve the quality of their live concerts being streamed via the Internet.  Sonic Focus’s artisans and engineers draw upon decades of close partnerships with music icons such as Jerry Garcia, Cher, George Winston, Will Ackerman, Carlos Santana, Grateful Dead, and Windham Hill.  Their work also includes partnerships with media companies such as Clear Channel Communications and the Walt Disney Company.  For more information about Sonic Focus, visit www.sonicfocus.com.  For more information about ARC International, visit www.arc.com.  ARC International is listed on the London Stock Exchange as ARC International plc (LSE: ARK).