Bookham Debuts VCSELs

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Bookham, Inc. (NASDAQ: BKHM), a leading provider of optical components, modules and subsystems, today announced that its VCSEL (vertical cavity surface emitting laser) portfolio will make its debut at Photonics West later this month.Since acquiring Avalon Photonics and its VCSEL technology in March 2006 over one million VCSELs have been shipped.

The full portfolio of VCSEL products will be on display for the first time at the Bookham stand (number 1127). Bookham will also be introducing two new products to the portfolio at Photonics West:

* a polarization stable 850nm single mode VCSEL, designed foroptical computer mice, which provides a stable, Gaussian beam in a range of operating conditions and low power consumption (less than 10 mW);

* an 850nm high power VCSEL array, designed to provide distributedlaser illumination with high temperature stability and narrow spectral linewidth.

"The unique advantages of VCSEL technology are increasing its attractiveness to new markets and applications, making it an excellent platform for growth," said Steve Turley, chief commercial officer at Bookham. "Bookham has long been a proponent of diversification in the optical component industry and the acquisition of Avalon Photonics has continued this strategy, adding a new chip technology to our already broad chip design. Photonics West is the ideal stage on which to demonstrate our extensive capabilities beyond core telecoms, including VCSELs, high power laser diodes, display optics and photonics solutions."

Bookham Inc. (Nasdaq: BKHM; London: BHM)