Samsung Transforms Access to Home Entertainment with Blu-ray Upgrades and New Online...

Samsung Transforms Access to Home Entertainment with Blu-ray Upgrades and New Online Content Partners

A host of advanced features including instant access to Netflix
and Pandora services revolutionize home entertainment for consumers
RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J.--(Business Wire)--
Samsung Electronics America, a market leader and award-winning
innovator in consumer electronics, proudly announces the availability
of Netflix and Pandora services for its Blu-ray players. Greatly
enhancing the functionality of its cutting-edge BD-P2500 and BD-P2550
devices, users can now instantly access a wealth of compelling online
entertainment. Going well beyond simply spinning ordinary Blu-ray
discs, these Samsung Blu-ray players can instantly stream movies and
television episodes from Netflix and music powered by Pandora, all
from the comfort of the living room.

Consumers can upload the value-added services at no additional
cost to the players via a feature upgrade. Starting today, current
Samsung Blu-ray device owners will be able to instantly watch from a
growing library of more than 12,000 movies and television episodes
from Netflix (BD-P2500/BD-P2550) and music from Pandora (BD-P2550).
The upgrade is available at www.samsung.com/bluraysupport.

"In its new form, Samsung Blu-ray players become the ultimate
content delivery box, combining on-demand access to movies and music
as well as jaw-dropping Full HD viewing," said Reid Sullivan, Vice
President of Marketing, Audio/Video & Imaging at Samsung Electronics
America. "Samsung presents a new value proposition for Blu-ray players
by positioning it as a portal to a wide world of engaging digital
content, be it Blu-ray discs, Pandora's online music library or movies
from Netflix."

The addition of content from Netflix and Pandora underscores
Samsung's strong commitment to meeting consumers' rapidly-evolving
desire for multimedia enjoyment at home. Since releasing the first
stand-alone Blu-ray player in 2006, Samsung has a proven track record
of continuously improving features for its product owners. With this
update, the most potent yet, consumers can instantly enjoy a vast
library of digital music, movies and television shows along with the
crystal clear high-definition experience of Blu-ray using one device.

In addition to the content services, Samsung will provide a
BD-Live update for the company's BD-P2550. To heighten audio format
options, a DTS-HD High Resolution firmware upgrade will also be
available for both the BD-P2500 and BD-P2550 on October 30, giving
consumers both superior sound plus incredibly sharp high-definition
picture quality. Making the upgrade process a breeze is Samsung's Auto
Firmware Update feature. When connected to a home network, the player
will now prompt users of new firmware as soon as it becomes available.

Netflix

Access to Netflix on both the BD-P2500 and BD-P2550 offers
consumers an extensive supply of video content to watch instantly.
From the players' welcome screen, Netflix members click on the Netflix
icon to reach their instant Queue (the list of movies they have
selected on the PC want to watch instantly.) After choosing the title
they want to watch, they simply push play and the movie starts in as
little as 30 seconds. Netflix members also can use the BD-P2500 and
BD-P2550 to watch any one of the 100,000 titles Netflix has on DVDs as
well as the more than 800 titles Netflix has on Blu-ray disc.

"Samsung has been at the forefront of innovation in consumer
electronics and has established a market leadership position in
Blu-ray and digital television," said Netflix Co-Founder and Chief
Executive Officer Reed Hastings. "We're excited about the upgraded
Blu-ray disc players. Moreover, we look forward to working with
Samsung in the years to come to deliver a variety of outstanding
products on which consumers can watch movies delivered over the
Internet from Netflix."

Pandora

The BD-P2550 can now stream music though the popular Pandora music
service. As a result, Samsung Blu-ray consumers have a fresh way to
discover new music and stay up-to-date with their favorite artists.

"Internet radio is rapidly spreading beyond the desktop computer
to every room of the house" said Tim Westergren, Pandora's founder.
"We're honored and excited that Samsung selected Pandora's
personalized radio as the radio of choice for their Blu-Ray player
customers."

BD-P2500/BD-P2550

The BD-P2500 and BD-P2550 make up Samsung's 2008 step-up Blu-ray
player line. They offer breakthrough enhancements, such as Hollywood
Quality Video (HQV) processing and 7.1-channel analog audio outputs
creating a powerful HD audio-visual experience. The upgrade schedule
by unit is as follows:

-0-
*T
BD-P2500 BD-P2550
-- October 23 - Netflix feature -- October 23 - Netflix and Pandora
upgrade for current users feature upgrade for current users
-- October 30 - DTS-HD HR -- October 23 - BD-Live firmware
firmware update update
-- October 30 - DTS-HD HR firmware
update
--------------------------------- ------------------------------------
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Specifications

-0-
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BD-P2500 Blu-ray Player BD-P2550 Blu-ray Player
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Design Piano black with chrome accents and touch pad
controls
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BD Profile -- Compatible with BD -- Compatible with Profile
Profile 2.0 (BD Live), 1.1 (Bonus View), and
Profile 1.1 (Bonus Profile 1.0 interactivity
View), and Profile 1.0 features
interactivity features -- Compatible with Profile
2.0 (BD Live) via firmware
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A/V Features -- 1GB internal flash memory
-- Award-winning Hollywood Quality Video(TM)
(HQV(TM)) processing
-- 24fps film mode
-- xvYCC Deep Color
-- Selectable DVD upconversion (720p / 1080i / 1080p)
-- Dolby Digital Plus(TM), Dolby TrueHD(TM), dts-HD
HR(R) decoding (via firmware)
-- Dolby Digital Plus(TM), Dolby TrueHD(TM), dts-HD
HR / MA(R) bitstream output
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A/V Connections -- 1 HDMI version 1.3 output with CEC (Anynet+)
-- 1 component output
-- 1 composite output
-- 7.1-Channel analog audio outputs
-- 1 optical audio output
-- 1 Ethernet connection (for interactivity features
and firmware upgrades only)
-- 1 USB connection (for memory expansion and
firmware upgrades only)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Playable Media BD-ROM, DVD-ROM, DVD-R(V mode only), DVD-RW (V/VR
mode), Audio CD, CD-R, CD-RW, AVCHD disc
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated
Selling Price $399.99 $399.99
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Availability Now Now
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*Subject to change without notice.
*T

About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.

Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Samsung Electronics America,
Inc. (SEA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd., markets a broad range of award-winning, digital consumer
electronics and home appliance products, including HDTVs, home theater
systems, MP3 players, digital imaging products, refrigerators and
washing machines. A recognized innovation leader in consumer
electronics design and technology, Samsung is the HDTV market leader
in the U.S. Please visit www.samsung.com for more information.

MWW Group
Media Inquiries:
Dan Lantowski, 212-827-3748
dlantowski@mww.com
or
Sample Requests:
Brian Bennett, 646-351-8114
bbennett@mww.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008