Inventec Appliances Corporation to license UbiNetics 3G protocol Software

Taiwanese handset player teams up with Cambridge 3G tech firm

February 6, 2004 - 3G Technology company, UbiNetics, has licensed its 3G Protocol Software to one of Taiwan's leading handset players. The deal is the next step in UbiNetics' strategy to deploy its core technologies in multiple 3G chipsets and handsets.

Inventec Appliances Corporation, who has shipped over one millian handset products under the OKWAP brand name in Taiwan and China during the past year, selected UbiNetics because of the interoperability and maturity of the UbiNetics' WCDMA solution. Hope Chan, VP of Engineering for Inventec Appliances Corporation, commented, "Our handset engineering team continually work on the newest technology developments to meet the future handset requirements - to meet our milestones we need to work with protocol software that is proven and reliable. This made UbiNetics the ideal candidate for WCDMA stack partner as we move into the high speed 3G era."

The deal with Inventec also builds on the special relationship between UbiNetics and the Taiwanese government research organisation "Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI)". UbiNetics were first contracted by ITRI in 2001 to supply protocol software to key Taiwanese handset manufacturers. This deal represents the latest in a series of Taiwanese licence agreement for UbiNetics brokered with the local assistance of ITRI.

"We are pleased to complete the deal with Inventec," said Elsa Chan, UbiNetics' Business Manager based in Asia. "The selection as a supplier for Inventec is a good indication of the technical and commercial attractiveness of our Protocol Software."

Inventec Appliances Corporation, a Taiwanese company dedicates in smart handhelds and network appliances with strong engineering design and manfacturing capability. Inventec Appliances Corporation is sharpening its focus on cutting-edge wireless technologies to capture the latest high-potential market trends.

The company owns a leading brand in Taiwan's mobile phone market, OKWAP. With continuous innovation in customer value, OKWAP mobile phone products are very popular in Taiwan market and is going to hit 1 million shipment in year 2003. OKWAP is now on the top 3 list in Taiwan mobile phone market together with Nokia and Motorola, and keeps increasing its market share. Inventec Appliances Corporation is also extending its own-brand business to China since year 2003 and is expecting to have a big growth in year 2004.

The company was formed in July 2000 from a world-class notebook manufacturer, Inventec Group. Since 2000, Inventec Appliances Corporation has grown to be over 4400 employees (including 1000 plus engineers) with activities in China (Shanghai & Nanjing), Taiwan, and US. The revenue in year 2003 is expected to surpass US$ 900M.

About UbiNetics
UbiNetics is a next generation wireless communications technology company. It designs and develops innovative 3G, 2.5G and 2G products and solutions for wireless data and voice applications and is a leader in 3G test and measurement equipment.

The company's 3G Test Mobile has become the industry de-facto standard for WCDMA infrastructure testing. This, together with the portable TM200 Test Mobile and other test solutions, positions UbiNetics at the centre of 3G interoperability testing. UbiNetics also provides the industry's most robust protocol software and physical layer IP portfolio for 3G chipset and handset developers and manufactureres. The company has developed a unique range of creative products for UMTS and GPRS/GSM applications including customised embedded modules and development tools.

The company was formed in January 1999 from PA Consulting Group's Wireless Telecommunications Practice. Since 1999, UbiNetics has grown to over 400 employees with activities in the UK (Cambridge and Swindon), Japan, India and Hong Kong.