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Synaptics to Enhance Pen Input Navigation for Symbian OS Smartphones

SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb 24, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ --

Synaptics Incorporated (Nasdaq: SYNA), a leading developer of human interface solutions for mobile computing and communications devices, today announced its membership in Symbian's Platinum Partner Program to support the emerging market for Symbian OS advanced mobile phones. As a member of Symbian's Platinum Partner Program, Synaptics will develop a version of its Spiral(R) inductive pen input solution to run on Symbian OS. Symbian OS is the open global standard operating system for advanced mobile phones and is licensed by the world's leading handset manufacturers, accounting for more than 80 percent of worldwide mobile phone sales.

"This partnership reflects our commitment to improving the user interface for accessing, navigating, and managing content rich information delivered to Symbian OS mobile phones," said Francis Lee, Synaptics President & CEO. "By becoming a Symbian Platinum Partner, we can leverage our experience in the mobile computing market to offer wireless users, application developers, handset manufacturers and carriers an interface solution that combines advanced functionality with ease of use."

"We are pleased to have a leading provider of interface technologies join Symbian's Platinum Partner Program," said Gilles Allain, Symbian's Vice President of Partnerships and Alliances. "Synaptics has developed Spiral, a non-contact pen input navigation system, that provides enhanced user interface experiences in location based services, gaming and MMS applications. We welcome the opportunity for Symbian OS advanced mobile phones to take advantage of this exciting technology."

The Symbian Platinum Program includes companies that have a technology or strategic position that is key to the success of mobile computing technology surrounding Symbian OS. As part of the program, Platinum Partners benefit from a range of commercial services, as well as privileged access to Symbian OS source code and a dedicated Partner Support team.

About Spiral

Synaptics' patented Spiral pen-sensing system is designed specifically to provide intuitive interface solutions for the next-generation mobile devices. Spiral offers OEMs a robust, solid-state solution that enhances LCD clarity, and with its unique proximity-sensing capability, enables the management of complex content, and accelerates text input and device navigation.

About Synaptics Incorporated

Synaptics develops advanced interface solutions for products as diverse as notebook and desktop computers, mobile computing and communications devices, automotive applications and security solutions. Synaptics' products include TouchPad(TM), the industry standard notebook pointing device; ClearPad(TM), a capacitive touch screen solution; TouchStyk(TM), a modular capacitive pointing stick solution; Spiral(R), an inductive, proximity sensing pen input system; cPad(TM), an LCD TouchPad; TouchScreen, a capacitive touch solution for large displays; and QuickStroke(R), a proprietary Chinese handwriting recognition software. More information about Synaptics can be found on the World Wide Web at www.synaptics.com.

About Symbian

Symbian develops and licenses the global industry standard operating system for advanced mobile phones. The world's leading handset manufacturers license Symbian OS, including Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Siemens and Sony Ericsson. In total, Symbian OS licensees represent over 80% of worldwide mobile phone sales.

Symbian's mission is to create a global mass market for Symbian OS mobile phones by enabling its licensees to build winning products. Publicly announced Symbian OS phones include the FOMA F2051, Sony Ericsson P800 Smartphone, Nokia 9210 series, 7650, 3650 and N-Gage. As at January 2003, 9 Symbian licensees had 20 Symbian OS phones in development. For further information about Symbian, please see www.symbian.com

This press release contains "forward-looking" statements about Synaptics, as that term is defined under the federal securities laws. Synaptics intends such forward-looking statements to be subject to the safe-harbor created by those laws. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, expectations of Synaptics' success and market acceptance of its Spiral product and the success of mobile devices using the Symbian platform. Synaptics cautions that these statements are qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected by the forward- looking statements contained herein. Such factors include, but are not limited to: (a) market demand for Synaptics products (b) market demand for OEM products using Synaptics products, and (c) the failure of Synaptics products and OEM products to deliver commercially acceptable performance, and other risks as identified from time to time in Synaptics' SEC reports, including Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and Annual Reports on Form 10-K. All forward-looking statements are based on information available to Synaptics on the date hereof, and Synaptics assumes no obligation to update such statements.

CONTACT: Jennifer Ackman of Edelman, +1-650-968-2758, or jennifer.ackman@edelman.com, for Synaptics Incorporated; or Amanda Mena of Synaptics Incorporated, +1-408-434-0110, ext. 178, or amena@synaptics.com.

SOURCE Synaptics Incorporated

Jennifer Ackman of Edelman, +1-650-968-2758, or
jennifer.ackman@edelman.com, for Synaptics Incorporated; or Amanda Mena of
Synaptics Incorporated, +1-408-434-0110, ext. 178, or amena@synaptics.com
http://www.synaptics.com

Copyright (C) 2003 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.

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