IBM, Sony, Toshiba Broaden and Extend Successful Semiconductor Technology Alliance

TOKYO, JAPAN and ARMONK, NY --January 12, 2006 -- IBM, Sony Corporation and Toshiba today announced they have begun a new, five-year phase of their joint technology development alliance.

As part of this broad semiconductor research and development alliance, the three companies will work together on fundamental research related to advanced process technologies at 32 nanometers and beyond. The agreement will help enable the three companies to more rapidly investigate, identify and commercialize new technologies for consumer and other applications.

Over the last five years Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., Toshiba and IBM have collaborated on the "Cell" microprocessor design, and its underlying SOI (silicon-on-insulator) process technologies in 90 and 65 nanometer.

"This is a winning combination," said Masashi Muromachi, president & chief executive officer of the Semiconductor Company at Toshiba Corporation. "With Toshiba's cutting-edge process technology and manufacturing capabilities, Sony's various semiconductor technologies and deep knowledge of consumer markets and IBM's state-of-the-art material technology, we can anticipate breakthrough process technologies for the 32-nanometer generation and beyond. Toshiba will apply these advances to assuring continued leadership in cutting-edge process technology and the accelerated development of essential devices for the age of ubiquitous connectivity."

"The extension of the IBM, Sony and Toshiba relationship to fundamental research is extremely promising," said Kenshi Manabe, president of semiconductor business unit, EVP and Corporate Executive of Sony Corporation. "This joint development project will help accelerate the cycle from fundamental research to commercialization based on detailed feasibility studies of potential technologies, device structures, innovative materials, and unique processing tools."

"By extending this relationship to the next-generation of process technologies and deepening our partnership at the research level, we expect to increase the pace of development for major technology advances," said Lisa Su, vice president, Semiconductor Research and Development Center, IBM Systems & Technology Group.

Research and development will take place at IBM's Thomas J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., the Center for Semiconductor Research at Albany NanoTech, and at IBM's 300 millimeter manufacturing facility in East Fishkill.

About IBM

IBM develops, manufactures and markets state-of-the-art semiconductor and interconnect technologies, products and services including industry-leading Power Architecture microprocessors. IBM semiconductors are a major contributor to the company's position as the world's largest information technology company. Its chip products and solutions power IBM eServer and TotalStorage systems as well as many of the world's best-known electronics brands.

IBM semiconductor innovations include dual-core microprocessors, copper wiring, silicon-on-insulator and silicon germanium transistors, strained silicon, and eFUSE, a technology that enables computer chips to automatically respond to changing conditions. More information is available at: http://www.ibm.com/chips

About Sony Corporation

Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and on-line businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading personal broadband entertainment company in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of approximately $67 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005. Sony Global Web Site: http://www.sony.net

About Toshiba Corporation

Toshiba Corporation is a leader in the development and manufacture of electronic devices and components, information and communication systems, digital consumer products and power systems. The company's ability to integrate wide-ranging capabilities, from hardware to software and services, assure its position as an innovator in diverse fields and many businesses. In semiconductors, Toshiba continues to promote its leadership in the fast growing system LSI market and to build on its world-class position in NAND flash memories, analog devices and discrete devices. Visit Toshiba's website at www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm