O-STA

Philips Wins Design Award for Cordless Fetal Transducer

ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 12, 2004--Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) announced today that it received the prestigious Medical Design Excellence Award (MDEA) from Canon Communications LLC for its obstetrical care surveillance system, the Philips Avalon CTS (Cordless Transducer System). The MDEA competition is the premier awards program for the medical technology community recognizing the people responsible for groundbreaking innovations.

With Avalon CTS, expectant mothers are un-tethered from the fetal monitors. Wearing the lightweight, cordless transducers, mothers-to-be can move about with more freedom and comfort, and even bathe while being continuously monitored. The system measures external fetal heart rate and movement, uterine activity and maternal ECG. It uses radio frequency (RF) technology to transmit information to a base station, Philips fetal monitors, and the Philips OB TraceVue information management system. Information from Avalon can become part of the overall patient record.

"Our goal was to design a wireless system using advanced technologies that would facilitate attentive care for obstetrical care teams and provide expectant mothers with greater comfort and mobility," said David Russell, senior director of marketing, global patient monitoring, for Philips Medical Systems. "We're pleased to know that our efforts in obstetrical care and women's health have been recognized by this award."

According to MDEA committee member Steve Halasey, competition in the annual awards program is intense. "The fact that Philips has won the award several times in previous years says a lot about their commitment to design excellence."

Philips has won Medical Design Excellence Awards for its HeartStart home defibrillator, the Sonos 7500 Live 3-D ultrasound system, the Optigo portable ultrasound device, and Interactive Healthcare Services.

About Royal Philips Electronics:

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is one of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of $32.8 billion (EUR 29 billion) in 2003. It is a global leader in color television sets, lighting, electric shavers, medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring, and one-chip TV products. Its 164,500 employees in more than 60 countries are active in the areas of lighting, consumer electronics, domestic appliances, semiconductors, and medical systems. Philips is quoted on the NYSE (symbol: PHG), Amsterdam and other stock exchanges. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter