AMCC Introduces Industry's First 3.2 Gbps Silicon Germanium Differential Crosspoint Switch; The S2018 Offers Significantly Reduced Power Consumption and Increased Functionality.

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 9, 1999--

Applied Micro Circuits Corp. (AMCC) (NASDAQ:AMCC), a leader in high-bandwidth silicon connectivity solutions, today announced the S2018, the industry's first very high-speed Silicon Germanium (SiGe) 17 x 17 differential crosspoint switch with full broadcast switching capability.

Ideal for use in high-speed applications such as dense wave-division multiplexing (DWDM) switching, digital video, high-speed automatic test equipment (ATE) and Internet and datacom switches, the S2018 offers minimum power dissipation utilizing only a single 3.3V power supply and can handle NRZ data rates of up to 3.2 Gbps. The S2018 has a typical bandwidth-to-power ratio of 16.5 gigabits per watt, thereby validating SiGe as an excellent technology for high-speed switching solutions.

"The S2018 is a key device in expanding the switch fabric in the WAN core," said Zareh Baghdasarian, founder and vice president of engineering at Monterey Networks. "The S2018 offers a compelling combination of high performance coupled with low power consumption that makes it possible to design the larger switches that are demanded by the need for more bandwidth in the core."

Any of the S2018's 17 differential LVPECL input signal pairs can be connected to any or all of the device's 17 differential CML output signal pairs (Figure 1 provides a functional block diagram). The differential nature of the data path is retained throughout the crosspoint structure, thereby minimizing data distortion and supporting NRZ data rates of up to 3.2 Gbps. The input data range is from 200mV to 1200mV differential, and the CML programmable output swing range is from 200mV to 1400mV differential (typical).

"The S2018 demonstrates a compelling combination of AMCC's product innovations coupled with Silicon Germanium. At levels of performance twice the nearest competitor, the S2018 validates AMCC's technological superiority", said Jon Siann, AMCC's director of marketing for datacom products. "The S2018 is yet another AMCC device that enables system level solutions for terabit connectivity in the LAN and WAN."

In addition, the S2018's LVTTL configuration controls provide a simplified interface to slower speed circuitry. The device can be selectively reconfigured on output pair at a time, or any number of output pairs can be reconfigured simultaneously. Once a new configuration has been entered into the configuration register file, the S2018 can be completely reconfigured by pulsing the CONFIGN input, without disturbing operation.

Pricing and Availability

The S2018 will be sampling next month with production release scheduled for fourth quarter of 1999. The device, packaged in a 352-pin Super Ball Grid Array (SBGA), is priced at $200 in quantities of 1000.

About AMCC

AMCC designs, develops, manufactures and markets high-performance, high-bandwidth silicon solutions for the world's communication infrastructure. The company utilizes a combination of high-frequency, mixed-signal design expertise and multiple silicon process technologies to offer IC products for the telecommunications market that address the SONET/SDH and ATM transmission standards and for the data communications markets that address the Gigabit Ethernet, ATM and Fibre Channel transmission standards.

AMCC's core technologies also address ATE and high-speed computing needs. AMCC's corporate headquarters and wafer fabrication facilities are located in San Diego. Sales and consulting engineering offices are located throughout the world.

For further information regarding AMCC and its products, write: Marketing Communication Department, AMCC, 6290 Sequence Drive, San Diego, California 92121-4358; or call 1-800-755-AMCC (800/755-2622) or 619/450-9333; or fax [phone]; or email [e-mail]; or visit our website at http://www.amcc.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release are forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, "The Factors That May Affect Future Results" detailed in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 1999, and the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially, as a result of such factors, from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Product photos, datasheets and application notes are available upon request. AMCC is a registered trademark of Applied Micro Circuits Corp.