Jess-Link wins Asia's first Media Center OS authorization from Microsoft

Taipei, March 9, 2005 (CENS)--Taiwan's Jess-Link Products Corp. (JPC) has won Asia's first authorization for system-input device from Microsoft's Media Center operating system, enabling it to sell wireless products under Microsoft brand.

JPC is a leading supplier of components and finished products in three different input/output (I/O) application product categories, including cable/connectors, storage, and wireless HID (human interface device)/access. Company president Jessica Chang claimed that sales of JPC's wireless products are expected to double to account for 25% of her company's total revenues in the future.

JPC also signed some agreements with big international companies. In addition to contract-supply businesses with Hoshiden of Japan and Nokia of Finland, JPC will have three new connector customers in the second half of the year.

Microsoft debuted the Media Center operating system in October 2004 and claimed that personal computers equipped with the new OS would be the application center in Digital Home by linking various digital-content devices, including downloading digital contents to mobile devices and smart home appliances. The Chinese-version Media Center 2005 is expected to be launched in Taiwan in the middle of this year.

Industry sources said that JPC has begun shipping wireless-related products to Dell Computer Corp. of the U.S. The firm expects its wireless product shipment to enjoy a sharp growth after winning the authorization from Microsoft.

JPC has also successfully separated its customers in connector sales. The company's spokesman Huang Pang-guo said that JPC has won new orders for mainly multimedia devices from big customers in the U.S. and Japan.

JPC scored revenues of over NT$3 billion (US$96.15 million at US$1: NT$31.2) in 2004 in 2004, generating pretax earnings of NT$356 million (US$11.41 million) or earnings per share (EPS) of NT$5.02 (US$0.16).