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STMicroelectronics is Top Supplier of Camera Modules for Mobile Phones in 2005


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Recent Report on Camera Module Market Shows ST Ranked as Top Mobile Phone Camera Manufacturer

Geneva, February 01,2006 - STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) has been recognized as the world’s number one supplier of camera modules by the independent industry analyst Prismark Partners LLC. According to the Prismark report highlighting the 2005 Camera Module Market, ST captured 16% market share and moved into first place among manufacturers of CMOS image-sensor modules for wireless phones.

Mobile-phone camera modules are a fast-growing industry segment that Prismark predicts will double by 2009 to 700 million units a year, representing a 73% penetration of camera phones worldwide.

ST has been extremely successful in this market due to best-in-class pixel performance, sensor and module development capabilities, and full ownership of the manufacturing flow. Moreover the wide portfolio of products, from SMIA (Standard Mobile Imaging Architecture)-compliant camera modules, with a resolution of CIF (Common Intermediate Format) up to 2-Megapixel, to System-On-Chip products that integrate ST’s imaging digital signal processing technology on a single chip, allows customers to easily upgrade their systems while preserving physical and logical interfaces.

Using its vertically integrated supply chain, ST is able to design and manufacture camera modules that are optimized for the ST sensor silicon. This leads to the best possible quality due to mastery of each step in the complete imaging chain. With control of sensor, lens, module and processor, ST achieves excellent final-image quality.

“ST has made a major commitment to manufacture optical modules and has built up a significant production capacity thanks to its highly experienced teams,” said Jean-Yves Gomez, Group Vice President and General Manager of ST’s Imaging Division. “ST’s strategy has been to bring semiconductor principles to optical modules in order to offer highly repeatable manufacturing based on the latest semiconductor assembly equipment. ST has also used its extensive knowledge of wafer fab cleanroom technology to construct super-clean environments for optical module assembly, hence delivering best-in-class quality levels.”

STMicroelectronics has recently satisfied the growing demand for high image quality and higher resolution with a SMIA-compliant 2-Megapixel camera module targeted at mobile applications (VS6750) and has been developing an extensive family of sensors using its latest 2.2μ imaging technology.

In addition to mobile phones, camera modules can be used in a wide range of portable devices such as PDAs, webcams, Digital Still Cameras (DSCs), and wireless security cameras.

Editor’s note

In July 2004, STMicroelectronics and Nokia released the Standard Mobile Imaging Architecture (SMIA): a comprehensive specification for camera modules aimed at standardizing all aspects of the modules, from electrical, mechanical and functional interfaces to their characterization, optical performance and reliability.

The SMIA specification is offered for free to the mobile imaging industry and is available at www.smia-forum.org .

About Prismark

Prismark is an electronics industry consulting firm, privileged to work with over one hundred of the world’s leading system houses, semiconductor fabricators and the materials, components and tool companies that enable electronic equipment to be manufactured. Prismark is globally recognized as a provider of deeply researched analyses that lead to superior business decisions in a technologically, structurally and geographically changing electronics industry. Further information on Prismark can be found at www.prismark.com.

About STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics is a global leader in developing and delivering semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications. An unrivalled combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength, Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners positions the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and its products play a key role in enabling today’s convergence markets. The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on Euronext Paris and on the Milan Stock Exchange. In 2004, the Company’s net revenues were $8.76 billion and net earnings were $601 million. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.
Information last updated Jan 2005



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