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#0348
Xilinx Press Release #0348
XILINX CHIPS BRING FANS CLOSER TO THE ACTION
AT SPORTING EVENTS WORLDWIDE
Xilinx Enabled Kangaroo.tv, World's First Wireless
Interactive Audiovisual Solution,
makes its debut at Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
SAN JOSE, Calif., April 16, 2003 - Xilinx, Inc. (NASDAQ:XLNX) today announced
a design collaboration with World Audio Visual Entertainment Systems (W.A.V.E.S.),
inventors of Kangaroo.tvtm , the world's first wireless audio visual entertainment
system designed to enhance spectator experience at a variety of sporting
events worldwide. This new and unique product, containing Xilinx low cost
Spartan Series chips, is a user-friendly handheld device offering access
to a broad range of event specific audio and video material. Beginning
in Long Beach this past weekend, Kangaroo.tv (www.kangaroo.tv)
provided fans of the 'Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series
Powered by Ford' event, with the added value of being closer to the action
than ever before. This forward-thinking technology, with access to rich
interactive content including favorite views of the race, access to on-board
or pit cameras, real-time driver standings, replays and interviews, would
not have been possible without the reprogrammable nature of the Xilinx
Spartan Series chips. To view the device in action, visit www.xilinx.com/company/success/kangaroo.htm.
"The Champ Car World Series is just the beginning. In addition to
expanding our reach within the racing industry, we plan to broaden the
availability of Kangaroo.tv to spectators at a variety of sporting events.
Fans everywhere should keep an eye out for Kangaroo.tv because the possibilities
are limitless," said Alain Charette, vice president of Corporate
Development at W.A.V.E.S. "Xilinx provided the low cost high-performance
technology we needed to develop this innovative product, and in record
time."
"This is a perfect marriage of racing and technology and we are pleased
to offer Champ Car fans the unique interactive service that Kangaroo.tv
provides," said Champ Car vice president of Marketing, Steve Fusek.
"Spectators now have the opportunity to be 'up close and personal'
with the drivers and pit crew as well as the ability to view more than
one event at the same time."
As the 'Official Interactive Video and Audio Viewing System Provider'
several thousand Kangaroo.tv units will be available through a broad range
of rental packages. The Kangaroo.tv service will be available to Champ
Car fans at all but the two European races, and at all venues next year.
For information on future events visit www.kangaroo.tv.
W.A.V.E.S. is the first in the world to converge an innovative Proprietary
Video Protocol (PVP) encoded platform with proven analog technology and
a new Interactive Viewing Terminal (IVT), to develop the innovative Kangaroo.tv.
What makes this new technology unique, according to W.A.V.E.S, is the
Ticket to Event Smartcard, which reconfigures the hardware to perform
specific functions, as defined by the user through an interactive display.
"Through the power of innovation and partnerships with technology
leaders such as W.A.V.E.S, Xilinx can deliver our latest technology to
the masses," said Xilinx vice president of Worldwide Marketing, Sandeep
Vij. "Kangaroo TV is a prime example of how our programmable chips
are further penetrating the consumer electronics industry."
About Xilinx Spartan Series FPGAs
Marking a major milestone in the semiconductor industry just yesterday,
Xilinx unveiled a new class of 90nm Spartan solutions - the Spartan-3
platform. Ranging from 50K to 5M system gates, the Spartan-3 platform
is the world's lowest cost FPGA with unrivaled price points. The Spartan-3
platform builds upon the proven success of over four generations of Spartan
Series solutions. Since its 1998 introduction, the company has shipped
more than 50 million Spartan Series devices. Spartan Series products have
been broadly adopted in high-volume, high-growth consumer applications
- the most difficult high-volume market to penetrate and one historically
dominated by ASICs.
Insight Memec of Montreal, Xilinx's authorized distributor, also played
an invaluable role in the design and support of Kangaroo TV. According
to Cherret, W.A.V.E.S. experienced unprecedented support from Insight's
Greg Arns and Luc Langlois.
About W.A.V.E.S.
Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Greater Montreal, Canada, W.A.V.E.S.
is a company that combines both technological and business hands-on expertise.
Prior to W.A.V.E.S. start up operation, its founder Marc Arseneau developed
DeltaVision, a leading world manufacturer of CCTV equipment. Areseneau,
a sports enthusiast and former Formula 1600 driver, proceeded with his
dream to create Kangaroo and its companion, the Kangaroo Broadcasting
concept.
About The Champ Car World Series
Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc. (NYSE: MPH) owns, operates and markets
the 2003 Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford.
Veteran racing teams such as Newman/Haas Racing, Player's/Forsythe Racing,
Team Rahal, Patrick Racing and Walker Racing will compete with many new
teams this year in pursuit of the Vanderbilt Cup. CART Champ Cars are
thoroughbred racing machines that reach speeds in excess of 200 miles
per hour, showcasing the technical expertise of manufacturers such as
Ford Motor Company, Lola Cars, Reynard Motorsport and Bridgestone/Firestone
North American Tire, LLC. The 18-race 2003 Bridgestone Presents The Champ
Car World Series Powered by Ford will be broadcast by television partners
CBS and SPEED Channel. CART also owns and operates its top development
series, the Toyota Atlantic Championship. Learn more about CART's open-wheel
racing series at www.champcarworldseries.com.
About Xilinx
Xilinx, Inc. (NASDAQ: XLNX) is the worldwide leader of programmable logic
solutions. Additional information about Xilinx is available at www.xilinx.com.
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#0348
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