Leading Chinese PC Company and NComputing Partner to Bring sub-$150 Computing to Governments and Educational Institutions

Haier and NComputing focus on bridging the digital divide in Africa, Latin America and Asia

June 11, 2009 – NComputing, the world’s leading provider of ultra low-cost computing, has formed a strategic partnership with Haier Computer Group to jointly pursue large educational and government computing opportunities. Haier Computers is one of China’s largest PC companies and is a division of the $18 billion Haier Group. (HKEx: 1169). It has embarked on an ambitious plan to grow its global PC and IT services business. The two companies are pursuing opportunities to provide large-scale computing access to governments in Africa, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. NComputing and Haier have already won the world’s first nationwide “one-computer-per-child” program in the Republic of Macedonia. The two companies helped the Macedonian government install over 180,000 computing seats throughout its school system for under $150 per seat including all hardware, software, and network infrastructure.

The NComputing virtual desktop solution is based on a simple fact: today’s PCs are so powerful that the vast majority of applications only use a small fraction of the computer’s capacity. NComputing virtual desktops allow many users to share the unused capacity while providing full PC experience. NComputing devices use just 1 watt of electricity, reducing energy costs and making NComputing the greenest computing solution on Earth. It is the ideal solution for sustainable, energy-efficient computing where access to power is too expensive, unpredictable, or non-existent. The NComputing solution supports Linux and Windows platforms. The Macedonian government chose Ubuntu Linux for its “one-computer-per-child” program. By combining NComputing virtual desktops with Haier’s scale and price advantage on monitor and host PCs, the joint solution can be offered for 60-75 percent less than traditional desktop PCs or thin clients.

“NComputing’s mission is to bring computing to the next billion people around the world who are ready, but simply cannot afford it with traditional computers,” said Stephen Dukker, chairman and CEO of NComputing. “NComputing virtual desktops have broken the cost barrier and by partnering with Haier, we will be able to bring the technology to millions of students and citizens around the world.”

The two companies will initially target 18 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia, and Latin America that have large-scale computerization projects in schools and government offices and address over 1.5 million workstations. Over time, the companies expect to broaden the partnership to other countries. NComputing already has a significant presence in Africa with nearly 30 nations having deployed or piloted the solution. “NComputing is one of a few computer technology companies making a real commitment to bringing affordable, economically sustainable computing solutions to Africa and other developing regions,” said Brooke Partridge, CEO of Vital Wave Consulting, a strategy consulting firm focused on technology business in emerging markets. “Our research has shown most low-cost computing devices are being marketed primarily to mature markets. Its partnership with Haier demonstrates NComputing’s resistance to that change by focusing on these under-served markets. The Haier-NComputing partnership has the potential to positively impact the lives and careers of millions of children in the developing world.”

“Government leaders in emerging market nations recognize that computer skills are critical if they want their citizens and workers to prosper in the 21st century economy,” said Mr. Gao Yi-cheng, General Manager, Haier Computers. “By combining our cost advantage in PCs and monitors with NComputing award-winning virtual desktops, we will be able to offer governments an extremely cost-effective and sustainable solution that is unmatchable.”

Since introducing its award-winning virtual desktop technology two years ago, NComputing has emerged as the market leader with over 40,000 customers and millions of people using their virtual desktops in over 140 countries. NComputing won the Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation award, the Gartner Cool Vendor Award, the Frost and Sullivan Green Computing award, as well as numerous awards from CES, Deloitte, the Tech Museum of Innovation, CeBit, and Infocomm. It was recently selected as the best desktop computing solution for computer labs by Computer Aid International.