Pushing forward the latest technologies, VIA aims to further enhance the consumer experience of high quality audio technology on the PC platform

Taipei, Taiwan, 27 January 2003 - VIA Technologies, Inc., a leading innovator and developer of silicon chip technologies and PC platform solutions, today announced the True24™ Initiative, a bold undertaking encapsulating three goals: to drive higher quality audio solutions onto the PC, to develop a clearer standard for these solutions, and to help educate consumers about hi-fi PC solutions.

Audio on the PC is currently undergoing a revolution, with the movement from 16-bit (CD quality) resolution to ultra-high quality 24-bit solutions for video and music content. The adoption of 24-bit audio standards for the PC enables solutions that can compete with the latest consumer devices to create a true hi-fi experience. VIA has been a pioneer in this field, strengthened by the acquisition of leading audio design house ICEnsemble over two years ago, delivering premium performance 24-bit Audio Controller solutions to leading soundcard vendors.

“The introduction of CDs delivered 2 channel 16-bit, 44 kHz digital audio into the home as well as the PC,” commented Dr. Jon Peddie, the president of Jon Peddie Research, a leading market research firm in multimedia and graphics. “Now with new standards like DVD-Audio, and the WMA Professional codec, we are starting to see demand for 24/96 support in six channels with analog outputs, which necessitates the use of a compatible controller as well as digital/analog (D/A) converters that can input and output this hi-res data.”

“With audio becoming an increasingly important element of the PC, the True24 Initiative is an excellent way to forward our goal of the PC taking on a central role as the home entertainment center,” commented Richard Brown, Director of Marketing at VIA Technologies, Inc. “The True24 Initiative will also be an effective way for VIA to take a leadership role in educating consumers about audio performance, and to deliver our latest audio ideas and solutions.”

Along with VIA’s drive for higher standards, the True24 Initiative also aims to set out a clear standard for 24-bit performance, to help reduce current consumer confusion about what constitutes a true 24-bit solution.

For more information on the True24 Initiative please go to our website:

http://www.via.com.tw/en/multimedia/true24_a.jsp