Microsoft Grants Windows 7 Logo Certification to Stantum's Multi-Touch Technology

Stantum's Slate PC demonstration platform has been certified “Compatible with Windows 7.” The certification was achieved for up to 10 simultaneous touch points, enabling users and developers to benefit from Stantum's best-in-class multi-touch technology.

"This is good news for existing and future Stantum licensees,” said Stantum CEO Etienne Paillard. “Our pioneering experience, added to a long-term collaboration with Microsoft, has enabled this native multi-touch support since the first beta versions of Windows 7. Having the official logo now paves the way for OEMs considering our unique multi-touch technology for their future Windows 7-compliant products.”

Stantum's technology enables virtually unlimited touch points, offering an outstanding experience for the end user and surpassing other multi-touch technologies, such as AMR (analog matrix resistive) and state-of-the-art projected-capacitive solutions.

The Slate PC demonstration platform features a 10.1-inch touch screen and exemplifies the major benefits of Stantum's multi-touch technology:
•    10 or more simultaneous cursor points;
•    finger and stylus input;
•    finger-pressure detection;
•    low power consumption; and
•    native Windows 7 support, with no driver required.

Based on the Dell Inspiron Mini netbook platform, the demo is a slate PC with the multi-touch display screen replacing the keyboard. All operations – typing, handwriting, gestures, and classic cursor control – are input via the multi-touch screen, enabling an unprecedented user experience.

Unlike capacitive multi-touch, Stantum's technology is particularly well suited to netbook and MID (mobile Internet device) form factors, thanks to:
•    low solution cost;
•    immunity to EMI issues, enabling an easy coexistence with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth antennas around the screen; and
•    passive stylus input and high precision, enabling handwriting recognition and empowered Windows 7 interface usability.

More information is available at www.stantum.com and at Microsoft's Windows-qualification website.

Stantum and Gunze USA Announce Partnership to Develop Multi-Touch Solutions for the North American Professional Market

Stantum and Gunze USA, a world leader in resistive touch-panel manufacturing, today announced a partnership to co-design and deliver multi-touch solutions to the North American professional market.

The joint commitment will allow Gunze USA's clients to benefit from Stantum's multi-touch technology, with advantages such as:
•    10+ touches;
•    fingers and stylus input;
•    finger-pressure detection;
•    low power consumption; and
•    native Windows 7 support, with no driver required.

The two companies will co-design multi-touch modules based on the joint expertise of Stantum's seven years of pioneering, proven multi-touch experience and Gunze USA's leading manufacturing of touch-panels solutions, its workforce and its know-how.

“We are very pleased to work with Gunze USA,” said Francois Jeanneau, Stantum's sales & business development director, North America. “Their superior quality of touch sensor solutions and their advanced manufacturing capabilities will enable North American customers to integrate multi-touch functionality into their products.”

Commented Aparna Sharma, president of Gunze USA: “We are excited to expand our product line and to include true multi-touch products in our portfolio. Stantum's pioneering position in the industry now enables us to offer state-of–the-art multi-touch solutions to our existing and future customers.”

Gunze USA will provide these custom multi-touch modules to the North American market for use in industrial, automotive, defense, aerospace, medical, kiosk/point-of-sales, and other professional applications.

Unlike capacitive multi-touch, Stantum's technology is particularly well suited to these professional markets, thanks to its:
•    immunity to EMI issues, via easy coexistence with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth antennas around the screen;
•    stylus input and high precision, enabling handwriting recognition; and
•    ability to work flawlessly with gloves.

With this agreement, Gunze joins Stantum's growing network of qualified touch-solutions partners and will benefit from the multi-touch pioneer's dedicated support and design services.

More about Gunze's use of Stantum technology can be found on our GRAPEVINE page.

Stantum Opens Office in Japan

Stantum has officially opened a liaison office in Japan. The new office in Tokyo will allow building new partnerships with Japanese OEMs and touch panel/display/silicon vendors, as well as offering greater commercial and technical support from local professionals to their increasing demand for Stantum's multi-touch technology.

“Japan is crucial for Stantum's global business goals since it is a leading country for gaming, PC, smartphone, and car navigation markets and also for touch panel and display,” said Robert Pelissier, Stantum's vice president, sales & business development.

The implementation and deployment of Stantum multi-touch technology in professional audio products since 2005 explain its high robustness and reliability, as well as its solid intellectual property foundations. The company now brings highly integrated and production-ready solutions to the market by having its multi-touch technology licensed to leading semiconductor companies.

Pelissier added: ”Stantum multi-touch will be deployed in high-volume consumer products as of 2010, and many major companies in the world are currently evaluating or considering designing Stantum multi-touch in new products within the next months.”

Stantum is headquartered in Bordeaux, France, and plans to continue exploring additional opportunities for growth throughout the Asia-Pacific region.