Trident and Opera Bring an HbbTV-Compliant Browser Solution to the Set-Top Box Platform

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Trident Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRID), a leading provider of set-top box and TV semiconductor solutions, today announced that it has been working closely with Opera to deliver a Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV)-compliant browser solution on its PNX84xx-family of system-on-chip solutions.  This announcement supports Trident's aggressive efforts to be the first set-top box (STB) chip manufacturer to deliver all the key building blocks that customers need to quickly and easily deliver the next generation TV platform.  As the industry's first 45nm broadcast STB system-on-chip, the PNX84xx family is 3D-ready today and features the powerful Arm Cortex CPU; low power consumption; realistic 3D graphics; and a high level of flexibility for video encoding and decoding.

"Trident's PNX84xx family of HD STB SoCs are the perfect partner for Opera's HbbTV solutions because they utilize the power of the Arm Cortex core to provide the best end-user web-browsing experiences," said Tony Francesca, senior vice president and general manager of the Trident STB business unit.  "Given that the HbbTV standard is becoming mainstream in Europe, this is a critical feature for winning the major 2011 designs that are underway today."

"Our partnership with Trident will help introduce a ready-to-deploy solution bundled with Opera's unmatched speed, performance and feature-set, the building blocks of the next generation TV experience," said Christen Krogh, Chief Development Officer, Opera Software. "Opera is well positioned to meet the superior quality standards of Trident, a leading player in the digital home entertainment market, to bring the best the Web has to offer for end users."

What is the HbbTV

HbbTV is a new initiative which aims to combine entertainment delivered via broadcast and broadband to consumers using connected TVs and set-top boxes. The founding members of the HbbTV consortium developed the HbbTV specification to create a global standard for such hybrid entertainment services.

About the PNX84xx Series from Trident

The PNX84xx is a family of highly integrated system-on-chip products delivering a complete range of high-performance technologies for mainstream HD DVRs and set-top box applications in global satellite, cable and IPTV networks.

About the Opera Web browsing Solution

As a robust, open platform for creating Web-standards-based solutions, Opera delivers the ideal foundation not only for developing full Web browsers and user interfaces, but also for generating connected TV solutions that combine widgets and full Web browsing with emerging standards for making TV interactive, such as HTML5, HbbTV and OIPF.

Product Availability

Trident and Opera will be demonstrating its joint solution at the IBC show this week in Amsterdam in Hall 4, booth A-95.  Customers interested in more information should contact [email protected].

About Opera Software ASA

Opera Software ASA has redefined web browsing for PCs, mobile phones and other networked devices. Opera's cross-platform web-browser technology is renowned for its performance, standards compliance and small size, while giving users a faster, safer and more dynamic online experience. Opera Software is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with offices around the world. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol OPERA. Learn more about Opera at http://www.opera.com/.

About Trident Microsystems, Inc.

Trident Microsystems, Inc., with headquarters in Sunnyvale, California, is a leading force in the digital home entertainment market, delivering an extensive range of platform solutions that enhance the consumer experience in the Connected Home.  As one of the top-three semiconductor providers to both the TV and set-top box markets, Trident's solutions can be found in the products of leading OEMs and channel partners worldwide.  The company's extensive IP portfolio of more than 2,000 patents has been driving key innovations in image quality, 3D TV, low power consumption, and 45nm designs. For further information about Trident and its products, please consult the Company's web site: www.tridentmicro.com.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about Trident's combined efforts with Opera to provide a HbbTV-compliant browser solution to the set-top box market. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and there are important factors that could cause Trident's actual results to differ materially from those in the forward looking statements. These risks include, without limitation, that the HbbTV standard may not become mainstream in Europe; that the HbbTV standard may not be a critical factor in winning 2011 and beyond design wins; that the combined relationship with Trident and Opera may not continue in the future; that competitive platforms may provide comparable or superior results and that Trident may be the first STB manufacturer to deliver all key building blocks that customers need. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release; Trident does not undertake any obligation to publicly revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the statement was made. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning factors that could cause results to differ can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's most recently filed Reports on Form 8-K, Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, which are available at http://www.sec.gov.

NOTE: Trident, the Trident logo, and PNX84 are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Trident Microsystems in the United States and /or other countries.  All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

SOURCE Trident Microsystems, Inc.