Langenhagen, 10th June, 2008

altec ComputerSysteme GmbH – new SiliconDrive II™ to set standards on industrial storage solutions

++++ Short Summary ++++  

With the SiliconDrive II™ by SiliconSystems™, altec ComputerSysteme GmbH introduces a new flash based solid state disc (SSD) storage solution for industrial use. The intention of SiliconSystems development is to break into new target markets with higher performance, newer interfaces and new form factors with higher capacities. First evaluation samples are already available by altec.

++++ Press Release ++++

altec ComputerSysteme GmbH, the specialist for industrial flash storage media, consumer flash media and flash media duplication systems, introduces solid-state disc (SSD) solution SiliconDrive II, developed for industrial use. SiliconDrive II is a new developed part of the SiliconDrive™ family with great new features, like higher transfer performance, newer interfaces and new form factors with higher capacities.
Before large-scale production will commence in end of June 2008 evaluation samples are available by altec.

SiliconSystems consistent transformed their customer requests into action with SiliconDrive II. Reliability and monitoring for used components are very important factors for industrial use. Therefore SiliconSystems combines its singular technology like Wear-Leveling, PowerArmor, SiMART and SiSecure – first time included for free – in SiliconDrive II.

SiliconDrive II is performance-optimized for transactions with small files thereby the transfer rates increased up to 300 to 400 percent compared to the first generation of SiliconDrive.
 
With a look at most chipsets available for new computing designs and you will see in most cases that floppy disks and PATA interfaces have been replaced by USB and SATA. SiliconSystems also changed a lot of its product line to USB.
USB Blade is designed to be the storage solution where small size is required. SiliconSystems has partnered with connector leader Samtec to design a socket that has a latching mechanism to alleviate the mechanical issues associated with other USB mechanical form factors. The USB Blade is about one-fourth the size of a CF form factor, making it ideal for applications requiring small size and modest capacities.
The SiliconDrive II USB CF-Card takes advantage of CF-Card form factor and USB 2.0 interface. By little changes in the layout of established systems developers are enabled to use the USB interface for data storage. 
Many embedded and single-board computers already have the 10-pin USB male header (actually two rows of 5 pins each) on the board. The SiliconDrive II 10-pin USB module is specially qualified for using with 10-pin header – it’s compatible to the USB modules from Intel’s Z-U130 product line.

SiliconSystems offers a series of adapters for USB connectors so that SiliconDrive II USB modules can be plugged into standard USB ports.
For copying and serialization of files and applications altec offers various CopyStations and duplication services.

Approx. 2.950 characters.

++++ SiliconDrive II™ short product overview ++++	

SiliconDrive II 2.5" with PATA (ATA5/Ultra66) or SATA (3Gb/s) interface with capacities from 1GB to 32GB.
SiliconDrive II with CF-Card Type 1 form factor with PATA (ATA5/Ultra66) with capacities from 1GB to 16 GB or with USB 2.0 interface with capacities from 1GB to 8GB.
SiliconDrive II USB 10-pin module with USB 2.0 interface with capacities from 1GB to 4GB (compatible with Intel® Z-U130 USB solid-state drive module).
SiliconDrive II USB Blade with capacities from 512MB to 2GB.

++++ Short summary SiliconSystems technology ++++

SiSecure™ (formerly named SiliconDrive Secure) now a no-cost feature of the SiliconDrive II™ is a low-power, scalable storage solution which integrates security to guard against critical user data falling into the wrong hands or software IP theft. SiSecure provides the industry's most comprehensive suite of proprietary technologies enabling multiple user-selectable options for assuring data and software IP security. Offering designers easy implementation, SiSecure provides advanced security features such as ultra-fast data erasure and sanitization, data zones with independent security parameters and secure areas for OEMs to add unique encryption/decryption keys as a basis for implementing customer-specific security strategies.

SiliconSystems patented wear-leveling algorithm writes data evenly over the entire SiliconDrive II™, resulting in the longest possible drive life. In contrast, traditional flash card wear-leveling algorithms do not write evenly over the entire card. The expected life of traditional flash cards is directly related to the amount of static data present - the more static data, the shorter the card life.

SiSMART™ monitors how many write/erase cycles have occurred on a solid-state storage system -- the only real failure mechanism present in solid-state storage. By incorporating a patent-pending algorithm that tracks all data transactions internally in the SiliconDrive II™, SiSMART is able to accurately monitor and report storage system usage to the host system. This enables users to model future usage, set thresholds to perform maintenance and adjust data collection requirements to match the required life of the deployed equipment.

PowerArmor™ is another innovative technology from SiliconSystems that was developed to eliminate storage system field failures by virtually eliminating drive corruption and data loss in the event of unexpected power disturbances.

++++ Links ++++
altec ComputerSysteme GmbH – SiliconDrive II the 2. SSD generation by SiliconSystems
http://altec-cs.com/h_en/prod/firm/silicondrive_ii/index.htm

SiliconSystems – Advanced solid-state storage technology for the embedded system OEM market.
http://www.siliconsystems.com/silicondrive/patentedWear.aspx
http://www.siliconsystems.com/technology/index.aspx

SiliconSystems – Press Room
http://www.siliconsystems.com/corporate/pressRoom.aspx

++++ Photo and Logo Download ++++

altec Corporate Logos – please use only ”Logo with text”
http://altec-cs.com/h_en/news/bild_dl/sonst_dl/index.htm

SiliconSystems Corporate Logos
http://www.siliconsystems.com/corporate/pressroom/corporateLogos.aspx

SiliconSystems Product Photos
http://www.siliconsystems.com/corporate/pressroom/productPhotos.aspx

++++ Company Contact ++++
altec ComputerSysteme GmbH 
Bayernstr. 10
D-30855 Langenhagen, Germany 
phone: +49-511-9 83 81-0
 fax: +49-511-9 83 81-49
 email: info@altec-cs.com 
http://www.altec-cs.com

++++ Media Contact ++++ 
SIGNIA Werbeagentur
 c/o altec ComputerSysteme GmbH
Bayernstr. 10
 D-30855 Langenhagen, Germany
phone: +49-511-9 83 81-0
 fax: +49-511-9 83 81-49
 email: marketing@altec-cs.com
http://www.altec-cs.com

or

SIGNIA Werbeagentur
Thomas GanseIweit
Sperlingsfeld 8c
D-30627 Hannover, Germany
Phone: +49-511-7 61 14 07
fax +49-511-7 61 14 05
email: altec-pr@de.signia.de
http://de.signia.de

++++ About altec ComputerSysteme ++++

altec ComputerSysteme GmbH designs, manufactures and markets Flash data storage products, Solid-State-Disks and CopyStations for various flash memory card products in the industrial and commercial computer marketplace. altec also designs customer specific applications in hard- and software according to valid industry standards and is active in application engineering and technical support for customers in this environment. The company is one of the leading SanDisk distributors in Europe and distributor for Industrial Flash products from SiliconSystems in Germany. altec ComputerSysteme has been certified ISO 9001:2000 in December 2004.

++++ About SiliconSystems ++++

SiliconSystems is a world leader in advanced storage technology engineered exclusively for the high performance, high reliability, multi-year product lifecycle requirements of the Enterprise System OEM market. The company’s patented SiliconDrive technology exceeds the rigorous demands of applications in the netcom, military, industrial, interactive kiosk and medical markets. SiliconSystems is based in Aliso Viejo, California. Additional company and product information is available on the company’s website at www.siliconsystems.com.