Fremont, CA. – March 12, 2008 – Now that the “format war” between Blu-ray Disc (BD) and HD-DVD appears to be over with Blu-ray emerging as the winner, Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions (PLDS) USA, a worldwide leader in Optical Drive Disc (ODD) manufacturing, have positioned themselves to become the industry leading manufacturer of Blu-Ray writers and readers (BD-ROM).  In 2006, the company wisely positioned itself to compete in both formats by first signing an agreement with Toshiba to license its use of HD-DVD patents.  Later that year Lite-On IT assumed ownership of a joint venture between BenQ and Royal Philips Electronics and renamed the company Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions.  Since Philips is a charter member of the BD Association, the new partnership gave Lite-On access and ownership to numerous patents which allowed the company to begin R&D and ultimately production of its current line of BD products.

Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions has a strong and long-term commitment to the Blu-ray format. PLDS is one of the few companies that have access to an extensive Blu-ray patent portfolio and a large Optical Disc Drive production facility. Combining these two aspects makes PLDS a leading company in the Blu-ray Optical Disc Drive marketplace.  Other traditional ODD manufacturers will need to pay Blu-ray royalties to the original patent holders or outsource their production of BD drives to other manufacturers.  The combination of owning BD patents and being a true manufacturer of these drives, PLDS has the strength to launch new Blu-ray Disc products with the highest quality standards at a reduced cost.

“Combining our manufacturing abilities with Blu-ray patent ownership means we can produce high quality BD products for less which means less cost to the consumer,” said Christine Hsing, Marketing Manager at Philips & Lite-On Solutions.  “Certainly our reputation in the computer industry provides additional leverage for us in the marketplace but in the end our goal remains the same – to provide the highest quality product at a fair price for our customers.  We are very excited about the opportunities this presents to us as a manufacturer and to our customers,” added Ms. Hsing.

Lite-On Brand Blu-ray Product Line
Under the Lite-On brand PLDS was one of the first companies to introduce a Blu-ray writer with its introduction of the

LH-2B1S in November, 2006.  This BD writer has received rave reviews and accolades from the international IT press.

To make the Blu-ray format available for a wider audience, PLDS introduced the Lite-On DH-4O1S in 2007. This is a BD-ROM drive that allows users to playback Blu-ray discs from their PC at home. The competitive price point of the BD-ROM makes it an attractive option for users who are looking for an economic solution for Blu-ray playback.

Looking Ahead
In the 2nd quarter of 2008, PLDS will introduce an external version of the Lite-On BD-ROM. The DX-4O1S is a portable BD-ROM drive that allows users to playback their Blu-ray Disc on any PC through a USB 2.0 connection. The stylish black & white casing gives the DX-4O1S a modern and trendy look and received the RedDot design award by the German Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen for high design quality.

About PLDS
PLDS (Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions) is a joint venture between Royal Philips Electronics and Lite-On IT Corporation that is responsible for the sales and marketing of Lite-On branded Optical Disc Drive (ODD) business. The combination of a strong R&D focus and access to enormous production capacity makes PLDS an industry leading company. PLDS is dedicated to excellence and devote best efforts to further expand innovative quality product offerings for the PC industry and strengthen its top global position in the ODD industry.

Fremont, CA – February 13, 2008 – Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions (PLDS) USA,the joint venture between Philips and Lite-On that is responsible for the Lite-On branded Optical Disc Drive (ODD) business, is introducing a new, super-slim external DVD writer ideal for use with notebook computers and users who need a fast and easy way to read and write discs while on the road.  The DX-8A1H external DVD writer is the newest addition to the company’s 8X DVD writer portfolio. The external drive incorporates LightScribe disc labeling technology, as well as Lite-On’s patented SmartWrite features. Measuring a mere 5.3 (W) x 0.8 (H) x 5.3 (D)-inches and weighing only 11.8 ounces, the new portable DVD writer can comfortably fit inside a briefcase or notebook computer case.  A standard USB 2.0 cable is all users need to begin creating customized CD and DVDs from anywhere in the world.

The DX-8A1H includes the latest version of LightScribe labeling technology which allows users to silkscreen any type of artwork right onto the surface of the LightScribe-supported CD or DVD.  Users simply burn content data as always onto any LightScribe-compatible media, flip the disc over, reinsert it into the drive and burn a beautiful label based on personal artwork, text or photographs.  The new LightScribe software completely eliminates the need for printers, permanent markers or adhesive labels and provides a clean, professional appearance that adds to the final touch to your perfect creation.

Adding to the convenience and creative flexibility of the drive, the new DVD writer has the ability to read, write and re-write most disc formats on the market, including DVD-RAM and Double-Layer DVD±R format discs.  The ability to write to virtually any CD or DVD media gives users the added option of selecting media based on individual preference -- price, capacity, or brand – with the comfort of knowing that the media will work flawlessly with the unit.

The drive writes and re-writes to DVD-RAM discs at an optimum speed of 5X.  The unit’s Double Layer disc capability allows writing at a write speed of 6X.  It also supports 8X DVD+RW and 6X DVD-RW Rewriting; 8X max DVD-Reading; and 24X CD-R Writing, 24X CD-RW Rewriting, and 24X max. CD-Reading.

The Lite-On DX-8A1H super-slim external DVD Writer will be available at authorized LiteOn retail outlets nationwide in March, 2008 and have a suggested retail price of $XXXXX.  Please contact your authorized Lite-On Distributor, Reseller or Retailer for additional information, or visit www.liteonit.com.

About PLDS
PLDS (Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions) is a joint venture between Royal Philips Electronics and Lite-On IT Corporation that is responsible for the sales and marketing of Lite-On branded Optical Disc Drive (ODD) business. The combination of a strong R&D focus and access to enormous production capacity makes PLDS an industry leading company. PLDS is dedicated to excellence and devote best efforts to further expand innovative quality product offerings for the PC industry and strengthen its top global position in the ODD industry.