NEC Corporation of America, a premier provider of IT, network, storage and storage software solutions, today announced enhancements to its STARUS? screen server at ShoWest 2007, allowing theatre operators to easily build and manage playlists that support both JPEG2000 and MPEG2 files. In addition to providing simple scheduling and playlist administration, the new screen server also incorporates an improved user interface to minimize training and accelerate adoption.

"As the digital cinema industry continues to grow, it is essential for exhibitors to be able to use and operate the technology with ease and ensure a pleasurable cinema experience,? said Kurt Schwenk, general manager, Digital Cinema Division of NEC Corporation of America. ?Our newly available screen server technologies simplify the process of presenting digital movies on multiple screens, while ensuring seamless integration of systems in a multiplex without compromising content security.?

NEC's STARUS screen server supports 3D films and enables 2K and 4K playback. It also meets cinema industry standards providing enhanced security features, including CineLink II encryption and both Thomson's NexGuard and Philips' CineFence forensic watermarking technologies. The new STARUS screen server offers selected multiplex functionality, allowing multiplex control at the screen server level so that the theatre operators can remotely monitor all servers within the multiplex from any one server. It also enables screen servers to continue running scheduled playlists, even in the case of a network outage.

With enhanced software components, the STARUS screen server complements the family of STARUS digital cinema projectors with DLP Cinema® technology from Texas Instruments®. NEC is the only supplier that delivers a complete digital cinema solution. This new screen server offering enhances the company's integration services for system-wide delivery and management of digital content, and supports its world-class expertise in visual display products and infrastructure.

Many world famous premier theatres have installed NEC's Digital Cinema Solution to deliver state-of-the-art presentations, including the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Clearview Cinemas' Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City, Mann's Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Mann's Village Theatre in Westwood, Mann's Criterion Theatre in Santa Monica, Mann's Bruin Theatre in Westwood, and ArcLight Cinema's Cinerama Dome in Hollywood.

Availability

The STARUS screen servers are available now. NEC Corporation of America is currently showcasing the complete STARUS Digital Cinema system and ADVASuite Pre-show Advertising solutions in Palace 4 and 5 at ShoWest 2007.

NEC STARUS Digital Cinema Solution

Utilizing best-of-class technology innovations, the NEC Corporation of America's Digital Cinema Division leverages NEC's world-class expertise in visual display products, infrastructure, and integration services to develop specialized, system-wide solutions for the delivery and management of digital content. By combining the expertise of movie-making professionals with the technological innovation of NEC, the Digital Cinema Division is creating all-encompassing, practical digital cinema solutions that meet the requirements of the cinema industry. NEC's STARUS Digital Cinema Solution combines the immaculate imagery of digital cinema projection with NEC's award-winning server technology, offering the most comprehensive digital cinema solution on the market today. NEC designed the STARUS Digital Cinema Solution to deliver simple multiplex and presentation management in addition to seamless integration at a competitive price.

About NEC Corporation of America

NEC Corporation of America is a leading technology provider of network, IT and visual display solutions. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, NEC Corporation of America is the North America subsidiary of NEC Corporation (NASDAQ:NIPNY), a Global 200 company founded in 1899, which delivers technology and professional services ranging from server and storage solutions, digital presentation and visual display systems to biometric security, optical network, radio communications and IP voice and data solutions. NEC Corporation of America serves carrier, SMB and large enterprise clients across multiple vertical industries. For more information, please visit www.necam.com.

NEC is a registered trademark of NEC Corporation. STARUS and ADVASuite are trademarks of NEC Corporation of America. DLP Cinema and the DLP Cinema logo are registered trademarks of Texas Instruments. Other product or service marks mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners. All Rights Reserved. © 2007 NEC Corporation of America