November 12, 2001 

TOSHIBA STORAGE DEVICE DIVISION ARMS PHATNOISE WITH THE STORAGE TECHNOLOGY TO MOVE MP3 MUSIC COLLECTIONS FROM COMPUTERS TO CARS

Toshiba Hard Disk Drives propel auto entertainment systems to a new level of functionality

IRVINE, Calif,  Toshiba Storage Device Division (SDD)  is enabling a new breed of consumer technology products marked by its work with PhatNoise, Inc. to provide a ruggedized hard drive solution for digital media in the automotive environment. Debuting on the market today, the PhatNoise Car Audio System™ (CAS) allows users to bring their entire music collections into their vehicles, playing up to 6,000 high-quality digital audio tracks through their existing car stereo systems.

A leading-edge technology company that has developed award-winning multimedia platforms for the car, PhatNoise is using Toshiba’s robust 2.5-inch 20GB hard disk drive technology to create a removable storage solution as the foundation for its new MP3 car audio system. The incorporation of Toshiba’s hard drive technology into an automotive environment creates entertainment functionality never before seen on the open road.

"Toshiba and PhatNoise are changing the way consumers manage their music collections by providing a solution that can bridge MP3 computer files with automobile enjoyment," said Maciek Brzeski, vice president of marketing at Toshiba SDD. "Toshiba’s rugged 2.5-inch hard disk drives provide PhatNoise with the right combination of high-capacity storage in a small form factor that is capable of withstanding the extreme conditions of the automotive environment. Like it did for personal computers, hard disk drive technology is truly propelling today’s new consumer products."

With the PhatNoise CAS, users can easily manage data between computer and car systems by uploading files to a portable hard disk drive cartridge via a USB docking station. Accompanying software organizes, synchs and uploads music files from the computer to the PhatNoise cartridge, holding up to 6,000 MP3 files or 335 hours of music. The palm-sized cartridge can then be transported to the PhatNoise CAS that connects to existing compatible car stereos via standard CD-player adapter cables.

"We built the PhatNoise CAS around hard disk drive technology because no other platform would allow users to store extensive music collections on just one piece of media, while meeting the tough performance and condition requirements of the automobile environment," said Dannie Lau, co-founder and executive vice president of Business and New Product Development of PhatNoise. "Toshiba’s 2.5-inch hard drive technology best meets our needs by providing high quality, reliability and durability as well as great performance within rugged automobile conditions like humidity, vibration and extreme temperatures."

Toshiba’s hard disk drive technology cost-effectively brings consumer product manufacturers mass storage in a small form factor, providing the ideal technology for today’s multi-functional mobile PCs, as well as non-PC applications such as telematics, telecommunications, printers, copiers, GPS systems and MP3 players. For more information about Toshiba’s family of 10GB, 20GB and 40GB 2.5-inch hard disk drives, visit www.harddrives.toshiba.com.

Toshiba SDD, a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., leads the market in the development, design and manufacturing of DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, slim CD-R/RW, combination CD-RW/DVD-ROM, 1.8-inch hard disk drives and 2.5-inch hard disk drives. Toshiba SDD markets high-quality peripherals to original equipment manufacturers, value-added resellers, value-added dealers, systems integrators and distributors in the United States. Inherent in the company’s product line is the high-quality engineering and manufacturing that has established Toshiba products as worldwide leaders. For more information, visit www.sdd.toshiba.com.

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with annual sales of approximately $2.5 billion, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. is comprised of six divisions, organized into two business groups, which manufacture, market and service a wide range of business and information-oriented products in the United States and Latin America. Products include portable and desktop computers, PC servers and storage subsystems; voice-mail systems; digital business telephone systems; interactive voice-response systems; network systems and digital cameras. TAIS is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America Inc., a subsidiary of the $52 billion Toshiba Corp., the eighth-largest computer and electronics company and the world’s 26th largest industrial corporation in terms of sales. Toshiba Corp. is a world leader in high-technology products with more than 300 major subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide.

About PhatNoise

Based in Los Angeles, Calif., PhatNoise, Inc. is a leading-edge, privately-funded developer of next-generation hardware, software and Web integration technologies for digital media. The company’s technology takes consumers beyond current concepts in digital music and media by introducing easy and efficient ways to locate, manage, play and interact with digital content across multiple devices and environments. PhatNoise licenses its technology platforms to strategic partners to develop next generation multimedia products. For more information, visit www.phatnoise.com.

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