PortalPlayer setting up facility in Hyd

PortalPlayer Inc, a supplier of semiconductor, firmware and software solutions for portable multimedia products, has announced the setting up of a dedicated facility in Hyderabad, consolidating its operations in the city.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, J A Chowdary, president and managing director of PortalPlayer (India) Private Limited, said, "We have purchased five acres of land from the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation in Nanakramguda for the new facility that is likely to be ready by October 2006."

"We currently employ around 120 people in Hyderabad, of the 260 worldwide. This year, we plan to add 100 more employees in India," he added.

The facility will have the capacity to house 300 employees in the first phase, followed by another 200 later. "The first phase will involve an investment of $5.2 million, excluding the land cost," Chowdary said. As on date, the company has invested over $15 million in India.

PortalPlayer is also developing a new technology for notebook computers. According to Gary Johnson, president and chief executive officer of the $225-million company, the new technology platform "� Preface "� will enable a second user interface for notebook users.

"It will typically be a subsystem that will involve a display integrated into the lid of the notebook computer. This will enable a user to access critical information or music even without opening the notebook or booting the system," he added.

"PortalPlayer and Microsoft are introducing and enhancing this dual subsystem processing that will be shipped in the second half of 2006, coordinating with the launch of Microsoft Windows Vista. The time required for access of data or media via this subsystem will be less than a second," Johnson said.

In 2006, the market for notebook computers is expected to be 60 million units, which is likely to grow to 100 million units by 2008.

"We are optimistic about incorporating Preface in half of the notebooks shipped in 2008. In 2006, we expect around 10 per cent of our revenues to come from the notebooks segment," Johnson said. A notebook manufacturer will have to incur expenses of around $40 per notebook (including the cost of the LCD), for enabling the use of this platform.