Hyderabad Startup PortalPlayer Makes The Next Big Leap – Chips For Mini Video Displays

Mercury News: This Hyderabad and San Jose-based company is making headlines again. PortalPlayer has till now made a living by making the chips that process sound for iPods and other digital music players. The company is now making the next leap.
It’s making “chips that power tiny screen displays on laptops. The mini-displays — small screens on the outside of the laptop shell — will provide consumers with instantly available information and even e-mail without the need to power up a laptop. They will make their debut with Microsoft’s Windows Vista software later this year”.
PortalPlayer became a wonder company when it beat out heavyweight rivals to supply the chips behind most of Apple Computer’s iPod music players. With iPod becoming a hit selling in millions, Portal Player could also drive its volmues that helped it go public. The company now has a market cap of $566 million. Now with the personal mini media display chips, the company has successfully diversified and the future looks even brighter.
I know that a Bangalore-based VC firm had an opportunity to invest in PortalPlayer some five years ago when it was at seed stage. They still regret the fact that they didn’t. Now there is no option but to watch helplessly PortalPlayer going places.

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