STEC - STEC Inc.

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www.stec-inc.com/




WHO WE ARE

STEC, Inc. (formerly SimpleTech, Inc.) designs, develops, manufactures and markets custom memory solutions based on Flash memory and Dynamic Random Access Memory (“DRAM”) technologies. Headquartered in Santa Ana, California, we specialize in developing high-density DRAM memory modules and high-speed, high-capacityFlash-based Solid State Drives (SSD's) and memory cards used in sensitive and highly-volatile environments. We offer a comprehensive product line of Flash and DRAM-based memory solutions used by original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs.

OUR PHILOSOPHY
STEC believes that unique challenges demand unique solutions, and everything we do is to that end. By listening to our customers we are able to develop and support them on all levels of their evolving needs.

OUR MISSION
To provide the world’s highest level of quality, reliability and innovation for advanced memory and storage solutions.

OUR PROMISE
STEC believes that quality, reliability and innovation should always be at the forefront of what we do. To ensure this, we have developed and will continue to enhance our extensive capabilities in product development, testing and support.

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CONTACT US

STEC Worldwide Headquarters
3001 Daimler Street
Santa Ana, California 92705 USA

Contact Information
General Support: (949) 476-1180
Fax Number: (949) 476-1209

Email Support
Career Opportunities
jobs@stec-inc.com

Investor Relations
ir@stec-inc.com

Public Relations
pr@stec-inc.com

Website Related Inquiries
webmaster@stec-inc.com

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April 15, 2008 - 8:30 AM EDT

STEC Official Response to Patent Infringement Claims From Seagate

Suggested Patent Infringement Claims are Without Merit

SANTA ANA, Calif., April 15, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- STEC, Inc. (Nasdaq:STEC), a designer, manufacturer and marketer of high performance solid state drives (SSDs), announced today that it has received notice of a patent infringement lawsuit brought by Seagate Technology LLC (NYSE:STX), Seagate Technology International, Seagate Singapore International Headquarters Pte. Ltd. and Maxtor Corporation in United States District Court, Northern District of California, alleging infringement of U.S. Patent Nos. 6,404,647 (issued in 2002), 6,849,480 (issued in 2005), 6,336,174 (issued in 2002) and 7,042,664 (issued in 2006).

STEC is one of the first companies to build SSDs, having designed, manufactured and shipped SSDs as early as 1994, long before any of the suggested patents were issued to Seagate. Given the effect SSDs are having on the HDD market, STEC believes that Seagate's lawsuit is completely without merit and primarily motivated by competitive concerns rather than a desire to protect its intellectual property. STEC believes that Seagate's action is a desperate move to disrupt how aggressively customers are embracing STEC's Zeus-IOPS technology and changing the balance of power in enterprise storage. Seagate is sending a clear signal that it recognizes STEC as the leader in the SSD business and is attempting to slow down part of the growth that STEC is gaining through its SSD offering, particularly in the enterprise segment. STEC will aggressively pursue its defense to this infringement action.

In addition, STEC will also closely examine the patents asserted by Seagate as STEC believes it held such technology including prior patents, dating more than a decade prior to any of Seagate's patents. Although STEC is in the process of analyzing the claims in this lawsuit, STEC believes that Seagate's asserted patents pertain to technologies where STEC has years of prior experience and/or patents. STEC has significant patents related to SSD which have been developed through the decades of experience STEC has with developing, manufacturing and shipping SSDs. Beyond that long history, STEC also believes that many of Seagate's claims are not relevant to SSD. For example, STEC was one of the originators of stacking technology with patents dating back to the mid-1990s, while Seagate's patent on this matter was issued in 2005.

Through this process, STEC will determine if Seagate is misappropriating any of STEC's core technologies; STEC will take appropriate action to protect its interests, including seeking the invalidation of Seagate's patents.

"Throughout our 18 year history, STEC has been diligent in its pursuit of industry-changing technology while entirely respectful of the intellectual property that has been developed by others. The allegation put forth by Seagate in recently published articles that STEC '...ha(s) stolen (its) patents,' is simply not accurate nor in line with STEC's long history of success and fair play in these markets," said Manouch Moshayedi, chairman and CEO of STEC. "In fact, STEC believes these allegations are in response to the competitive threat that we as a leading developer of innovative SSD technologies pose to the HDD industry. We view this action as Seagate's attempt to slow down the growth that STEC's SSD business is experiencing, particularly in the enterprise segment. We have a high degree of confidence in STEC's intellectual property portfolio."

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About STEC

STEC, Inc., with headquarters in Santa Ana, California, designs, manufactures and markets high performance memory and storage solutions. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.stec-inc.com.

The STEC logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1079

Safe Harbor Statement:

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, statements concerning: our belief about Seagate's motivation for the lawsuit, our initial assessment of claims made by Seagate in the lawsuit, the outcome of the lawsuit, our defense of the lawsuit and our intellectual property portfolio. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations. Important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements are detailed under "Risk Factors" in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission made from time to time by the Company, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and its current reports on Form 8-K. Other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include the following risks: the invalidation or circumvention of our patents and intellectual property, the unexpected cost of prolonged intellectual property litigation, intellectual property litigation diverting the efforts of our technical and management personnel, results of litigation is inherently uncertain, risk that our products could be enjoined by court, and any adverse result in litigation could lead to our obligation to pay significant damages and/or obtain a license. The information contained in this press release is a statement of STEC's present intention, belief or expectation. STEC may change its intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon any changes in such factors, in STEC's assumptions or otherwise. STEC undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

STEC is a registered trademark of STEC, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks referred to herein are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT:

STEC, Inc.
Media Contact:
Press and Media Relations
Elaine Marshall
(949) 466-6303
emarshall@stec-inc.com
Investor and Financial Media Contact:
Mitch Gellman, Vice President of Investor Relations
(949) 260-8328
ir@stec-inc.com

Source: PrimeNewswire (April 15, 2008 - 8:30 AM EDT)

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April 21, 2008 - 8:30 AM EDT

STEC Announces Industry's Smallest and Highest Reliability SSDs; Unveils MACH4 1-Inch Solid State Drives

Compact 1-Inch Design Ideal for Small Form Factor Systems Needing High Performance, High Reliability in a Single Integrated Storage Device

SANTA ANA, Calif., April 21, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- STEC, Inc. (Nasdaq:STEC), a designer, manufacturer and marketer of high performance solid state drives (SSDs), today announced the MACH4 1-inch SSD -- the industry's smallest, highest reliability and lowest power-consuming SSD. STEC's new MACH4 platform enables system designers to reduce the footprint and power requirements of designs, providing unprecedented design flexibility and enabling new product categories.

"For the numerous applications which were historically challenged by the severe limitations of 1-inch hard disk drives (HDD), STEC is now offering a much more cost-effective, higher capacity and higher reliability alternative in an easy-to-implement solution," said Patrick Wilkison, vice president of marketing and business development. "The MACH4 1-inch SSD family offers a compelling combination of speed, reliability and form factor, all in an integrated storage device, thus enabling an entirely new wave of applications. The drive's unique blend of attributes makes it an ideal solution for applications ranging from blade servers to ultra-mobile PCs to various other small format devices which require the highest throughput in the smallest package."

Leveraging STEC's proprietary controller technology, the MACH4 utilizes multiple Flash channels enabling throughput speeds faster than 90MB/s, making it the fastest, highest capacity, and most reliable compact storage solution on the market. The drive supports widely utilized interfaces, both native SATA and PATA, allowing OEMs to easily integrate the drive within systems. The MACH4 was designed to address a massive void in available storage technologies, due to the inability of HDDs to scale capacity in the 1-inch form factor in a cost effective manner.

Ultra-Compact Footprint

Optimized for embedded OEM applications, the MACH4 1-inch SSD's ultra-compact footprint and small form factor meet the needs of highly space-constrained applications. Ideal applications include GPS/navigation solutions, automotive entertainment systems, interactive kiosks, and ultra-portable notebooks which require the smallest possible storage solutions that, until now, lacked the right levels of performance, capacity and cost.

Cohesive Design Enables Broad Usage

The MACH4 1-inch SSD helps OEMs embrace NAND as a replacement for small form factor HDD as it comes as a cohesive unit (reliability and performance are all built-in). The drive enables wider usage of solid state storage by removing the difficulties associated with designing-in NAND-based memory and delivers unprecedented speed, with unrivaled reliability, ease of integration all in small form factor. As the HDD manufacturers focus only on increasing capacity on the 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch HDD form factors, the ultra-small form factor category of drives is not evolving. The MACH4 is ideally suited to meet the needs of this blossoming category.

MACH4 Features

• Speed: The MACH4 boasts four independent flash channels for ultra-fast speeds with sustained sequential 90MB/s reads and 55MB/s writes
• Reliability: The industry's most elaborate and effective Flash management capabilities ensuring long product life through built-in wear leveling and bad block management, full data-path protection with built-in 8-bit ECC engine, and built-in power-down data protection
• Security: AES encryption in hardware, write-protect, and data purge
• Standard Interfaces: SATA and ATA

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The drive has Commercial and Industrial Operating Temperature Range and provides lower power, reduced latency, and faster boot times compared to traditional hard disks.

Pricing and Availability

The MACH4 SSD is expected to be available in mass production at the end of April in capacities up to 32GB. Projected OEM pricing for the 8GB capacity point is $45; full pricing is available upon request. Sales information is available at http://www.stec-inc.com, via email at info@stec-inc.com or by calling (949) 476-1180.

About STEC

STEC, Inc., with headquarters in Santa Ana, California, designs, manufactures and markets high performance memory and storage solutions. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.stec-inc.com.

The STEC logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1079.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, statements concerning the performance of MACH4 products, potential customers sampling MACH4 products and their level of interest, our ability to address the growing SSD market, expected NAND Flash price declines, and anticipated price spread between HDDs and SSDs. Actual results may differ materially from the results predicted. Important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements are detailed under "Risk Factors" in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission made from time to time by STEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and its current reports on Form 8-K. Other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include the following risks: MACH4 products may not perform in the manner anticipated, customer demand for such products may not grow as projected and new technological advancements in the field might produce more competitive products. STEC undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

STEC is a registered trademark of STEC, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks referred to herein are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT:

STEC, Inc.
Media Contact:
Press and Media Relations
Elaine Marshall
(949) 466-6303
emarshall@stec-inc.com
Investor and Financial Media Contact:
Mitch Gellman, Vice President of Investor Relations
(949) 260-8328
ir@stec-inc.com

Source: PrimeNewswire (April 21, 2008 - 8:30 AM EDT)

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April 23, 2008 - 8:31 AM EDT

STEC Retains Patent Law Firm of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP to Supplement Its Defense Against Seagate Technology

SANTA ANA, Calif., April 23, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- STEC, Inc. (Nasdaq:STEC), a designer, manufacturer and marketer of high-performance, solid-state drives (SSDs), today announced that in light of the recent allegations of patent infringement by Seagate Technology, the company has engaged the services of the law firm of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP (WilmerHale).

WilmerHale has a staff of more than 1,000 lawyers with offices throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. The firm's practice includes more than 350 litigators with unmatched trial, appellate and Supreme Court experience, and includes an intellectual property practice enriched by the expertise of more than 120 attorneys and technology specialists holding scientific or technical degrees. In regards to some of WilmerHale's most recent cases, the firm:

• Represented Broadcom in a major series of disputes with Qualcomm, including seven separate cases in three separate forums, implicating billions of dollars in revenues in the market for advanced computer chips for use in cellular telephones. WilmerHale prevailed in each of the three cases to reach trial.
  
• Successfully defended STMicroelectronics (ST) in two cases initiated in the U.S. International Trade Commission by SanDisk. SanDisk initiated the first investigation based on a patent relating to flash memory circuits, for which it had obtained an exclusion order against Samsung. WilmerHale convinced the Commission, following a seven-day trial, that ST had not infringed the patent. WilmerHale also prevailed in a second investigation, initiated by SanDisk shortly after the termination of the first proceeding, based on the same patent as in the first investigation, as well as an additional patent.

"We are extremely confident in our technology and patents in the area of SSDs and IC stacking and equally confident in the abilities of our attorneys at WilmerHale," said Manouch Moshayedi, chairman and chief executive officer of STEC. "They have shown a consistent track record of success in litigation and defense of their clients over their 90-year history, and we believe they will do an excellent job defending our company against this lawsuit.

"We sincerely believe that our shareholders will receive the best representation possible in the courts by having WilmerHale at our side.

"We also believe that the courts will side in our favor and find that our products were being manufactured and sold by us into the market long before any such patents were filed by Seagate as indicated, for example, by our product offerings that were listed in our initial Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on March 15, 2000.

"Since the news of the filing of this lawsuit by Seagate became public, we have only received sentiments of support and positive remarks from our largest customers with the basic messages of full speed ahead with integration of our SSDs into their systems."

More information about WilmerHale is available at http://www.wilmerhale.com.

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About STEC

STEC, Inc., with headquarters in Santa Ana, California, designs, manufactures and markets high performance memory and storage solutions. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.stec-inc.com.

The STEC logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1079

STEC is a registered trademark of STEC, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks referred to herein are the property of their respective owners.

Safe Harbor Statement:

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, statements concerning: our assessment about the lawsuit, our confidence in WilmerHale, our defense of the lawsuit, belief that the courts will side in our favor, confidence in our technology and intellectual property portfolio and reaction from our largest customers. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations. Important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements are detailed under "Risk Factors" in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission made from time to time by the Company, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and its current reports on Form 8-K. Other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include the following risks: the invalidation or circumvention of our patents and intellectual property, the unexpected cost of prolonged intellectual property litigation, intellectual property litigation diverting the efforts of our technical and management personnel, results of litigation is inherently uncertain, risk that our products could be enjoined by court, and any adverse result in litigation could lead to our obligation to pay significant damages and/or obtain a license. The information contained in this press release is a statement of STEC's present intention, belief or expectation. STEC may change its intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon any changes in such factors, in STEC's assumptions or otherwise. STEC undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

CONTACT:

STEC, Inc.
Media Contact:
Elaine Marshall, Press and Media Relations
(949) 466-6303
emarshall@stec-inc.com
Investor and Financial Media Contact:
Mitch Gellman, Vice President of Investor Relations
(949) 260-8328
ir@stec-inc.com

Source: PrimeNewswire (April 23, 2008 - 8:31 AM EDT)

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April 24, 2008 - 9:15 AM EDT

STEC to Web Cast Conference Call Discussing First Quarter 2008 Results

SANTA ANA, Calif., April 24, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- STEC, Inc. (Nasdaq:STEC) today scheduled its earnings release and an open web cast conference call to discuss its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008. On May 5, 2008, a news release discussing the company's performance during the first quarter of 2008 will be issued prior to the start of the web cast conference call. The call will take place that same day at approximately 5:30 a.m., Pacific/8:30 a.m., Eastern.

The call will be open to all interested investors by dial-in and through a live audio Web broadcast. The call can be accessed from the United States and Canada at 800.781.3662 and internationally at 706.643.7710. to access the web cast please visit our web site at www.stec-inc.com, click "About STEC," then "Investor Relations" and finally "Email Alert." The web cast conference call will be archived and available approximately two hours after the live call concludes.

About STEC, Inc. (Nasdaq:STEC)

STEC, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures and markets custom memory solutions based on Flash memory and DRAM technologies. Headquartered in Santa Ana, California, the company specializes in developing high-density DRAM memory modules and high-speed, high-capacity solid-state Flash drives and memory cards used in sensitive and highly-volatile environments. For information about STEC, Inc., and to subscribe to the company's "Email Alert" service, please visit our web site at www.stec-inc.com, click "About STEC," then "Investor Relations" and then "Email Alert."

The STEC logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1079

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding STEC, Inc.'s business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.

CONTACT:

STEC, Inc.
Investor and Financial Media Contact:
Mitch Gellman, Vice President of Investor Relations
949.260.8328
Cell: 949.232.5080
ir@stec-inc.com
Media Contact:
Elaine Marshall, Press and Media Relations
(949) 466-6303
emarshall@stec-inc.com
www.stec-inc.com

Source: PrimeNewswire (April 24, 2008 - 9:15 AM EDT)

[StockJock-e]

Nice break over $8 today