National Semiconductor® Brings Linux to Information Appliance Platforms through New Partnership with INFOMATEC

September 22, 1999 - National Semiconductor® Corporation has appointed INFOMATEC AG / IGEL Technology Labs® to serve National's Asia Pacific customers of its innovative information appliance platforms. INFOMATEC / IGEL will develop Linux-based firmware to port to National Semiconductor's market-leading set-top box and thin-client platforms.

National Semiconductor's strategy to provide highly integrated solutions for the information appliance market is illustrated by its introduction in July of the Geode® SC1400, which integrates an interactive set-top box onto a single piece of silicon--including full PC functionality. The partnership between National Semiconductor and INFOMATEC / IGEL complements earlier partnerships with two Windows® CE system integrators, CCL and ITE, allowing customers to choose either Windows CE or Linux as the operating systems for their information appliances based on Geode technology.

"To optimize performance and market value of these new devices, it is vital that our Geode solutions run as many operating systems as possible," said Ozy Wong, National's Information Appliance Market Director, Asia Pacific. "IGEL's expertise in JNT, the Java-based operating system, and Linux is a great asset in further enhancing our reach in the information appliance market."

Mr. Jean Louis Van der Velde, the Managing Director of / IGEL Asia LTD, added, "The Internet is providing everyone with immense new opportunities. With the rise of e-commerce and the large number of ISPs, many more services and applications are now web-based. INFOMATEC recognizes the need for a flexible OS, which is Java-capable, and actively develops Linux-based programs to enable the proliferation of information and networking appliances. We're pleased to be working with National and their Geode family of products. The Geode SC1400's high integration and performance, together with our easy to use and versatile embedded OS solution, makes a powerful combination for success in the market."

About INFOMATEC AG / IGEL Technology Labs
INFOMATEC AG is a developer and manufacturer of High-End -eCommerce Systems for the trading industry, banks, and insurance companies. INFOMATEC has a current market capitalisation of US $1 billion and customers including: BMW, Audi, Agfa and Siemens. INFOMATEC was the top performing IPO on the Neuer Market in 1998. Part of INFOMATEC AG since 1998, IGEL Technology Labs was established in 1989 and is one of today's most innovative vendor's of embedded computer technology. Technologies include - JNT - for embedded systems and Etherminal - Thin Client products. In cooperation with other overseas subsidiaries of the parentcompany INFOMATEC, IGEL Technology Labs is marketing their products worldwide. IGEL Asia LTD was formed in 1999 to enable localisation of products for the Chinese and Asian markets and forge closer links with OEM manufacturers and Telecoms. More information regarding INFOMATEC and IGEL Technology Labs can be found at their respective websites - www.igelasia.com, www.igel.de, www.infomatec.com, or contact press@igelasia.com

About National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor provides system-on-a-chip solutions for the information age. Combining real-world analog and state-of the-art digital technology, the company's chips lead many sectors of the personal computer, communications, and consumer markets. With headquarters in Santa Clara, California, National reported sales of $2 billion for its last fiscal year and currently has about 11,000 employees worldwide. Additional company and product information is available on the World Wide Web at www.national.com.

National Semiconductor and Geode are registered trademarks of National Semiconductor Corporation. All other trade names referenced are the service mark, trademark or registered trademark or trade name of their respective companies.