Citizen to Launch Revolutionary Curved Clock Using E Ink's Electronic Paper Display

TOKYO and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. (president, Makoto Umehara), T.I.C.-Citizen Co., Ltd. (president, Toshio Takahashi), and E Ink Corporation (Massachusetts, U.S.A., president & CEO, Russell J. Wilcox) are pleased to announce the demonstration of the world's first curved clock product to utilize an electronic paper display (EPD). This unique design is enabled by E Ink (R) Imaging Film. This easy-to-read, low- power display component is fully conformable, allowing product designers more creative freedom than ever before. Citizen Watch Co. and T.I.C.-Citizen Co. worked closely with E Ink to develop the electronic paper display used in this new clock.

Displays made with E Ink Imaging Film provide a number of benefits over traditional display technologies, including:

Exceptional Readability -- Roughly twice the contrast of a reflective LCD, EPD's can be easily read in bright sunlight or in dimly lit environments and at virtually any angle.

Low Power Consumption -- In addition to the fact that no backlighting is required, the display also has an inherently stable "memory effect" which requires no power to maintain an image -- both of which drastically increase the battery life. The result is 1/100 the power consumption of traditional display options.

Versatile, Flexible Form -- E Ink Imaging Film allows product designers to create entirely new designs that were never possible before. This thin, flexible display can be used to create curved, eye-catching shapes.

These benefits allow the clock to be installed in locations that would otherwise be difficult with other technologies. In applications where portability is valued, this extended battery life enables the clock to be easily used as a "mobile" product.

Citizen Watch Co. and T.I.C.-Citizen Co. have not yet announced a launch date for this product, but it is expected to be commercialized in Japan in 2005. Plans for the international launch are under consideration, along with other design interpretations.

Editor's note: For an image of the clock, please visit E Ink's website at http://www.eink.com/.

About Citizen Watch Co.

Founded in 1930, Citizen Watch Co. was named after the policy, to provide the best products and services to all "citizens" in the world. Citizen is recognized as a worldwide leader in Watch Industry, especially in advanced technology. Citizen has consistently drawn on its leadership in watch technologies to create new possibilities in information and electric equipment, precision parts and industrial machinery. At the same time, Citizen takes on the challenge of next-generation ultra-precision fields, by

moving beyond the conventional thinking about watch technologies and precision processing. Citizen news can be found at: http://www.citizen.co.jp/english/.

About T.I.C.-Citizen Co.

T.I.C.-Citizen Co. is the subsidiary of Citizen Watch Co. whose main products are industrial use Clocks. Contact: info@tic-citizen.co.jp

About E Ink Corporation

E Ink Corporation is the leading developer of electronic paper display (EPD) technologies. Products made with E Ink's revolutionary electronic ink technology possess a paper-like high contrast appearance, ultra-low power consumption, and a thin, light form. E Ink's technology is ideal for many consumer and industrial applications spanning handheld devices, watches, clocks, and public information and promotional signs. E Ink is a private corporation that includes among its investors and strategic partners TOPPAN Printing Company, Royal Philips Electronics, The Hearst Corporation, Intel Capital, CNI Ventures, a division of Gannett Co., Inc, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Vossloh Information Technologies, and Motorola, Inc. E Ink news can be found at: http://www.eink.com.

   Media inquiries -- Citizen:
   Corporate Communications Division,
   Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
   Tel: 81-0424-66-1232

   Clock customer inquiries
   T.I.C.-Citizen Co., Ltd.
   Tel: 81-048-386-2296

   Media inquiries -- E Ink:
   pr@eink.com
   Tel: 617-234-8100