Agilent Technologies Completes Sale of its Camera Module Business to F

    Business Editors/High-Tech Writers
    3GSM World Congress 2005

    CANNES, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 15, 2005--Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) has announced it successfully completed the sale of its camera module business to Flextronics on Feb. 3, 2005. Agilent had announced Oct. 27, 2004, its intent to divest that business. With this transaction, Agilent exits the camera-module assembly business but will continue to develop and sell market-leading image sensors and processors for camera modules, optical mice and a variety of new applications spanning consumer, medical and industrial markets.
    Agilent is a market pioneer and leader in CMOS image sensors. In 1999, Agilent technology enabled the first optical mouse, which has shipped more than 350 million units and comprises 90 percent of the installed base for this ubiquitous consumer device. In the mobile phone camera-module market, Agilent has shipped more than 50 million units through leading handset OEMs.
    "In the past two years, Agilent's mobile imaging business has grown from scratch to become an industry-leading supplier to five of the top six handset OEMs," said Jason Hartlove, general manager of Agilent's Sensor Solutions Division. "With our shift to image sensors and processors, Agilent will continue to provide leading imaging features and functionality but will no longer design the optics and packaging or perform the assembly. In essence, Agilent is focusing on our core competency to bring the products to market and thereby create more value for our customers."
    Market research firm IDC predicts that in 2005 approximately 700 million cell phones will be sold, with almost 300 million that include cameras. The image sensor and processor is the single most important component of the camera module -- gathering, interpreting and rendering images in an extremely small package.
    "We see an excellent opportunity to build on Flextronics' strong position in the camera module business and to work with Agilent as a strategic image-sensor supplier going forward," said Mike Burger, senior vice president of Flextronics' Components Division. "Agilent has developed a loyal OEM customer base and we believe there is a very good opportunity for Flextronics camera modules with Agilent sensors in today's imaging technology market."

    About Agilent Technologies

    Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company's 28,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $7.2 billion in fiscal year 2004. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release contains forward-looking statements (including, without limitation, information regarding Agilent's intentions and plans to continue in the image sensor and processor markets, expected features and functionality of our product offerings, our development efforts and the number of cell phones predicted to be sold in 2005) that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause results of Agilent to differ materially from management's current expectations. These include changes in the image sensor and processor markets and the timing and completion of product development as well as risks and uncertainties detailed in Agilent's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Oct. 31, 2004.

    NOTE TO EDITORS: Further technology, corporate citizenship and executive news are available on the Agilent news site at www.agilent.com/go/news.

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CONTACT: Weber Shandwick, for Agilent Vishal Bali, 415-248-3429 vbali@webershandwick.com

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA FRANCE INTERNATIONAL EUROPE INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HARDWARE COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS TRADESHOW PRODUCT SOURCE: Agilent Technologies

Copyright Business Wire 2005