DisplayLink Chosen for Sony VAIO USB-Based Notebook Dock for Japanese Market

Sony VAIO Universal Dock Lets Laptop Users Create Desktop Computing Experience
with Either VGA or DVI Displays

PALO ALTO, CALIF.– DisplayLink Inc. today announced that Sony has chosen its network display technology for its Sony VAIO Universal Dock, which is the first USB-based universal notebook dock product on the Japanese market that allows notebook users to connect either a VGA or DVI display to a laptop using USB 2.0.

The Sony VAIO Universal Dock can be used with any display with a VGA or DVI that has a resolution up to 1600 x 1200 (UXGA). This, combined with the universal USB 2.0 connector to the PC, gives corporate IT departments the ability to deploy these docks to any user in an enterprise. Similarly, Japanese consumers can purchase the docks without regard to the notebook or display they have – or will have in the future.

The Sony VAIO Universal Docking Station supports Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista Aero. The dock features Ethernet and audio connections as well as four USB 2.0 ports, making it easy to connect and reconnect a laptop to a display, a network and to peripherals.

Sony is the latest development partner for DisplayLink, which in the past year has established itself as a preferred network display technology provider to several major consumer electronics brands.

“The universal notebook dock market is rapidly expanding because it delivers terrific convenience to consumers while reducing costs for notebook makers and making deployment much easier for organizations,” said Hamid Farzaneh, DisplayLink president and CEO. “With its new dock, Sony has expanded the universality of the products in this market and combined that functionality with the attractive industrial design that is characteristic of the VAIO product line.”

DisplayLink technology is comprised of high-performance Hardware Rendering Engine (HRE) network display chips (DL-160 and DL120) and Virtual Graphics Card (VGC) software that power high-quality, fully interactive 32-bit true-color graphics with real-time video playback across a USB link. They are designed for monitor manufacturers, PC OEMs and PC accessory companies who want to develop easy to use high performance products such as USB-connected monitors, video-capable USB laptop docking stations, Skype video phones, picture frames and other devices. The company’s adaptive compression algorithm and graphics protocol can also transmit graphics over other standard network interfaces, including wireless USB, Ethernet or Wi-Fi.

About DisplayLink
DisplayLink Corp. is a network display chip and software company that creates simple connections between computers and displays – via USB, making the benefits of expanded visual workspace available to everyone. Using universally accepted wired or wireless networking protocols and proprietary software compression techniques, graphically rich content can be transmitted easily between a single device and multiple displays and enjoyed in a more organized and productive way.

Leading global manufacturers have integrated network display technology into an array of consumer electronics including USB-enabled monitors, video docking stations and display adapters. Because of the unique ability to unleash content from hardware to multiple screens, an array of innovative devices is on the horizon. Founded in 2003, DisplayLink’s venture backers include Atlas Venture, Balderton Capital, DAG Ventures and DFJ Esprit. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, with main R&D and product development activities in Cambridge, UK.