VIA Technologies, Inc. Annual Report 2002

In our core business of chipsets, we are not resting on our laurels. At the time of
writing, we have an aggressive roadmap of performance discrete and integrated
solutions lined up across all the major processor platforms, including the fastest
single channel chipset for both the latest AMD Athlon XP processors and Intel
Pentium® 4 processors, as well as an upgrade for the highly acclaimed UniChrome
CLE266 chipset with its integrated MPEG-2 decoder that was designed to enhance
the digital media performance of native x86 CPUs such as our own VIA C3
processor.
In newer areas, we have seen remarkable growth for our ultra compact, highly
integrated VIA EPIA Mini-ITX series of mainboards that have found applications in
nearly all aspects of personal, corporate and specialist technologies. From low
profile set top boxes to silent servers and even mobile robots, the EPIA has proved
itself over and over as a most versatile platform for system design innovation.
Across the spectrum of silicon and platform products, we have considerable grounds
for optimism in 2003. Our VIA Audio division, that has been providing the very
highest end of the market with audio controllers, is bringing that technology
know-how to the onboard and integrated segments, as the quality of PC audio
increasingly becomes a deciding factor in the purchase decision. We will help to
bring Gigabit Ethernet to more personal and corporate users, just as the new VIA
VT8237 South Bridge will drive the latest storage technologies of Serial ATA and
RAID into the mainstream market. Also, we look forward to the introduction of
high-end discrete and integrated graphics solutions from our S3 Graphics joint
venture this year, and similar innovative and strong performing products to add to
our rich and varied technology portfolio.
On the corporate side, VIA announced ‘Project Canaan’ in January 2002, a
diversification strategy that saw the major operations streamlined into five key
technology business units: Core Logic Chipsets, CPU Business, Graphics,
Networking and Optical Storage Solutions, reflecting the transition of VIA from a
chipset-focused company to a complete platform provider. Through Project Canaan,
VIA has become a stronger, broader-based company, able to focus on both core and
emerging markets, and enabling more targeted research and development efforts
within each division.
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