Equator Technologies Expands Global Outreach to Additional Asian Markets

CAMPBELL, Calif. - July 23, 2001 – Equator Technologies Inc., the leading provider of comprehensive, broadband digital communications and media processing engines and systems, announced today that it is expanding its global presence by entering into a distributor agreement with Excelpoint Systems, a leading Singapore company in the field of electronic components distribution and related businesses. Excelpoint will distribute Equator’s full range of broadband communications solutions including its MAP-CA™ Broadband Signal Processor™ (BSP)™ chip, StingRay™ reference board, iMMediaTools™ Software Development Toolkit 5.3 and Dolphin reference design platform. The partnership with Excelpoint will help Equator penetrate the large markets in the People’s Republic of China, ASEAN and India. Having signed agreements earlier this year with distributors serving Japan, Korea and Taiwan, Equator is looking to its new partnership to penetrate additional Asian markets — an important step in the company’s global strategy.

Excelpoint serves numerous regions in Asia with a wide network of direct sales offices in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Nanjing, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Bangalore, Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad and Pune. Equator believes that these markets in particular remain vibrant and their growing demand for broadband communications applications present great opportunities for sales of Equator’s broadband solutions. Excelpoint will target broadband device manufacturers and service providers in the region’s telecom and media markets. The distribution of Equator’s customizable, efficient, broadband communications solutions will enable developers to design a variety of enhanced video streaming applications, including video conferencing, IP videophones, video surveillance and residential media gateways.

“We have always been committed to helping our customers meet the new challenges that arise in a rapidly evolving communications marketplace. By combining the strength of Equator’s broadband product portfolio with our team of highly-experienced field sales engineers, this partnership will help ensure that our joint customers will benefit from the most powerful, cost-effective broadband communications solutions available today,“ said Albert Phuay, president, Excelpoint. “Adding Equator’s broadband solutions to our offering is an opportunity for us to grow our own operations by providing some of the industry’s highest quality products and systems.”

“The People’s Republic of China is the largest consumer market in the world and its use of broadband communications is growing rapidly. The sheer magnitude of this market presents a great opportunity for us and to help increase the effectiveness of our efforts there, we were looking for a distributor with an established presence and expertise in the region,” said Kip Kokinakis, VP & general manager of Asia Pacific Operations, Equator. “Excelpoint has a particularly strong presence in Mainland China, in addition to India and ASEAN. Their professional distribution channels and strong technical hardware and software support capabilities will be invaluable to us as we seek to expand our customer base in those regions.”

About the Companies
Excelpoint Systems (Pte) Ltd.
Excelpoint Systems (Pte) Ltd. is a leading Singapore company in the field of electronic component distribution and related businesses. Established in 1987, Excelpoint has achieved an annual turnover of US $177 million and enjoys a growing base of highly satisfied customers. Excelpoint takes a personalized approach with customers, which has won the Company numerous distributor awards including the affectionate title of “The Friendly Company.”

Equator Technologies, Inc.
Equator Technologies is the leading provider of comprehensive broadband digital communications and media processing infrastructure for the consumer technology market. The company’s family of MAP-CA™ Broadband Signal Processor™ (BSP)™ digital signal processors, which is built on a smart silicon platform, couples a uniquely fully functional, system-on-a-chip solution with software tools. Equator’s unmatched compiler technology delivers 100% C programming – enabling the rapid introduction and field upgradeability of high-performance, video-intense systems. With more than 120 customers, Equator has gained traction in the consumer technology industry, having secured major market share in video conferencing and the digital head-end sector by offering rapid time-to-market and time-to-revenue solutions. Headquartered in Campbell, Calif., with additional international offices, Equator is a privately held company. For more information, visit www.equator.com.