Aliph Ships Jawbone, First Headset for Mobile Phones with Exceptional Audio Performance, Comfort and Design; Demonstrates at DEMOmobile 2004

BRISBANE, Calif. & SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 8, 2004--Now you can stop screaming into your mobile phone, trying to be heard on noisy streets, in airports or restaurants.

Aliph, the developer of next-generation mobile audio processing technologies, today announced the availability of Jawbone, a new kind of headset for mobile phones that provides a superior level of audio performance, allowing mobile phone users to communicate more clearly at all times. Jawbone is available for many of today's most popular phones by Motorola, Nokia and Sony Ericsson at www.jawbone.com and is priced at $149.95.

“Jawbone represents a new class of headsets that transforms the definition of the headset and raises the ante in the mobile headset market.”

"As cell phones proliferate, people's expectations for voice quality are increasing, but the technology has not evolved to match users' expectations," said Patrick McVeigh, Aliph CEO. "Our goal with Jawbone is to transform that and provide a level of audio and communications quality beyond what is in the marketplace today."

Anatomy of Jawbone

Based on breakthrough military-grade technology, Jawbone adjusts and optimizes both incoming and outgoing sound to achieve exceptional clarity in any environment in a manner previously not achievable.

Inside Jawbone, an intelligent system of sensors and software adaptively enhances the audio signals using a three-stage process: first, a voice activity sensor detects the vibrations produced on the cheeks by speech. Meanwhile, two microphones capture and then subtract unwanted and disturbing background noises. Finally, Jawbone dynamically enhances the incoming audio, allowing it to stand out clearly above the clamor of your background.

"When we looked at the noise problem in mobile communications, we realized that a fundamentally new technological framework was necessary -- one that leapfrogged existing weaknesses and delivered in everyday situations," said Alex Asseily, Aliph co-founder. "Using multiple sensors allowed us to simplify the problem by gaining essential information."

Beyond its technical superiority, Jawbone also incorporates unique design to provide an original style with long-lasting comfort.

"We've created a mobile product that addresses all elements of the user experience, beginning with exceptional audio performance and finishing with a form that is both ergonomic and aesthetically pleasing to the consumer," added Aliph co-founder Hosain Rahman.

Aliph worked with award-winning industrial designer Yves Behar of Fuseproject to create Jawbone. The headset has already been acclaimed as one of the most innovative design products of the year in Business Week's "Annual Design Awards" (Published July 2004) and is currently on exhibit at the SFMOMA as part of a retrospective on Behar's work.

"Aliph's Jawbone headset is a departure from traditional looking wearable technology, it is a lifestyle accessory, combining soft feeling plastic with stainless steel for both great comfort and a unique personality," Yves Behar of Fuseproject said.

"Mobile phone headsets can actually degrade the quality of voice communications. Many are clumsy and uncomfortable to wear. So it's no wonder that the attach rate for mobile headsets has been relatively low," said Chris Shipley, Executive producer of DEMOmobile 2004. "Jawbone represents a new class of headsets that transforms the definition of the headset and raises the ante in the mobile headset market."

In addition to demonstrating at DEMOmobile 2004, Aliph will be participating in a mobile headset "Sound Off" tomorrow and Friday, competing with two other market-leading headset providers, Plantronics and Logitech, with the audience voting for the preferred mobile headset.

About Aliph

Aliph was founded in 1999 by Alex Asseily and Hosain Rahman, two young entrepreneurs who met as Stanford undergrads. The pair shared a belief that voice would be the dominant interface for mobile devices and that creating a noise-free environment was critical to delivering an improved mobile communications experience. They enlisted an expert in speech technology from Lawrence Livermore National Labs and began building a team of recognized experts in mobile communications and consumer electronics products -- spanning Apple Computer, Palm and Motorola, among others -- to achieve the company's goals. Since 2002, Aliph's technology has been optimized for DARPA to maximize communications clarity in the most hostile conditions. Headquartered in Brisbane, CA, Aliph is funded by Mayfield and private investors. To purchase Jawbone, please go to www.jawbone.com.

About DEMOmobile 2004

The annual DEMO and DEMOmobile conferences focus on emerging technologies and new products, which are hand-selected from across the spectrum of the technology marketplace. Top executives from the leading hardware and software technology companies, venture capitalists, journalists from key industry publications and industry analysts attend the DEMO and DEMOmobile conferences to preview the most promising products and technologies for the coming year. DEMO is held in February each year and features approximately 60 new companies, products and technologies. DEMOmobile is held each fall and features approximately 35 new mobile technologies. For more information, visit http://www.demo.com/.