JD.com and Mellanox Join Forces to Drive E-Commerce Artificial Intelligence

SUNNYVALE, Calif. & YOKNEAM, Israel--()--Mellanox Technologies, Ltd. (NASDAQ: MLNX), a leading supplier of high-performance, end-to-end interconnect solutions for data center servers and storage systems, and JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:JD), China’s largest online direct sales company, today announced that they have concluded a cooperative agreement involving the establishment of the JD.com-Mellanox Joint Innovation Lab, designed to drive technology innovation. Based on the agreement, both parties will work together on new technology innovation, enhanced user experience and developing a new e-commerce platform for enterprise-level products. Together, the companies are dedicated to driving the next generation of e-commerce artificial intelligence solutions, and conducting associated research and development for high-speed interconnect products.

A key technology that JD.com has developed is JD Camera+, an application for image recognition and similar image search in mobile terminals. JD Camera+ facilitates ease-of-shopping for users by allowing customers to quickly and easily search for their favorites products with just a photo rather than detailed language descriptions.

“In the future, with the help of the Joint Lab, Camera+ will be enhanced from general photo-based searches to more advanced imaged-based searches that will allow users to view, select and purchase from suggested recommendations with an advanced image match algorithm for such items as clothing, make-up, furniture, etc.,” said Weng Zhi, vice president of technology, JD.com.

“As an innovative high-tech company, Mellanox has a deep understanding of virtual networks, cloud computing and associated technologies, whereas JD.com has a rich business legacy in e-commerce and an outstanding technical team,” said Zhang Chen, CTO, JD.com. “With the help of Mellanox’s technologies and products, JD.com hopes to improve production efficiency and bring greater business security to its customers.”

“Mellanox is committed to developing and marketing new generations of high-speed intelligent interconnect products which are experiencing rapid acceptance in a wide variety of applications including machine learning, artificial intelligence and other fields. Many of these are experiencing rapid growth on a global basis,” said Amir Prescher, senior vice president of business development, Mellanox Technologies. “In cooperation with JD.com, Mellanox will step up the pace, opening up the Chinese market to high-speed interconnect technology, and deploying solutions to a wider variety of applications while developing better products for users.”

Over the years, JD.com has accumulated a vast knowledge base which has enabled the Company to create intelligent JD.com, smart business solutions and high-quality e-commerce via continuously and fully utilizing data mining, artificial intelligence, machine learning and other technologies. High-speed interconnect technology is essential to support e-commerce artificial intelligence. At present, JD.com has advanced computing and supporting hardware facilities for developing artificial intelligence.

“Current plans call for server upgrades that will bring a qualitative leap in computing efficiency, fast tracking the artificial intelligence of JD.com and shifting our capabilities away from mainstream to cutting edge,” said Weng Zhi. “With Mellanox technologies, in combination with leading-edge computing and numerous applications currently deployed by JD.com, Mellanox will be able to drive product innovation for interconnect technology, and perfect the user experience.”

“Mellanox already has mature solutions for deep learning such as GPUDirect RDMA and various hardware-based acceleration,” noted Gilad Shainer, vice president of marketing, Mellanox Technologies. “The establishment of a joint lab with JD.com brings the industry closer to real applications while driving product and technology innovation. The lab will also enable Mellanox to accelerate the development of a new generation of interconnect solutions.”

JD.com-Mellanox Joint Innovative Lab will use image processing and cogitative computing technologies to drive innovation in finance, e-commerce, logistics and intelligence applications. A broad spectrum of intelligent applications ranging from refrigeration, big data search, intelligent logistics to autonomous capabilities ̶̶ all with the goal of demonstrating application-specific viability to industry.

In addition to safeguarding high-performance and reliable computing for JD.com on big data processing, cloud computing and others, the JD.com-Mellanox Joint Innovation Lab will first deploy new solutions and technologies within JD.com so as to provide a new level of user experience to its customers.

“The cooperation between JD.com and Mellanox is win-win for both companies. The agreement enables JD.com to remain true to its objective of driving leading technologies that make JD.com users’ life simpler and happier,” noted Zhang Chen.

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Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements related to the establishment and performance of the JD.com-Mellanox Joint Innovation Lab, product innovation related to interconnected solutions, image processing and cogitative computing technologies, enhancements to the search function of Camera+ and the pace of adoption of high-speed interconnect technology in the Chinese market. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry and business, management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by us, all of which are subject to change. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "projects," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "would," "could," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," similar expressions and variations or negatives of these words. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. More information about the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may impact our business is set forth in our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 26, 2016 and our quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on April 29, 2016. Other risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected may be described from time to time in reports we file with the SEC, including reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Mellanox

Mellanox Technologies is a leading supplier of end-to-end InfiniBand and Ethernet interconnect solutions and services for servers and storage. Mellanox interconnect solutions increase data center efficiency by providing the highest throughput and lowest latency, delivering data faster to applications and unlocking system performance capability. Mellanox offers a choice of fast interconnect products: adapters, switches, software, cables and silicon that accelerate application runtime and maximize business results for a wide range of markets including high-performance computing, enterprise data centers, Web 2.0, cloud, storage and financial services. More information is available at: www.mellanox.com.

About JD.com:

JD.com, Inc. is China’s leading online direct sales company and the country’s largest Internet Company by revenue. The company strives to offer consumers the best online shopping experience. Through its content-rich and user-friendly website, JD.com and mobile applications, JD.com offers a wide selection of authentic products at competitive prices and delivers products in a speedy and reliable manner. The company believes it has the largest fulfillment infrastructure of any e-commerce company in China. JD.com operates 7 fulfillment centers and a total of 213 warehouses in 50 cities, and in total 5,367 delivery stations and pickup stations in 2,356 counties and districts across China, staffed by its own employees. JD.com is a member of the NASDAQ100.

Mellanox is a registered trademark of Mellanox Technologies, Ltd. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Contacts

Mellanox Technologies, Ltd.
Press/Media Contact
McGrath/Power Public Relations and Communications
Allyson Scott, +1-408-727-0351
allysonscott@mcgrathpower.com
or
Israel PR Contact
Gelbart Kahana Investor Relations
Sharon Levin, +972-3-6070567
sharonl@gk-biz.com

Contacts

Mellanox Technologies, Ltd.
Press/Media Contact
McGrath/Power Public Relations and Communications
Allyson Scott, +1-408-727-0351
allysonscott@mcgrathpower.com
or
Israel PR Contact
Gelbart Kahana Investor Relations
Sharon Levin, +972-3-6070567
sharonl@gk-biz.com