AMD and Com21 Join Forces on Emerging Open Standards for Cable Modems.SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 23, 1996--AMD today announced an agreement with Com21, manufacturer of cable modem cable modem Modem used to convert analog data signals to digital form and vise versa, for transmission or receipt over cable television lines, especially for connecting to the Internet. communication products, to endorse the development of cable modem technology based upon emerging open ATM over Hybrid Fiber Coax (networking) Hybrid Fiber Coax - (HFC) A kind of physical connection used in networks for audio, video, and data. DVB (Digital Video Broadcast) is used in Europe and DOCSIS is used in N America. (HFC 1. (networking) HFC - Hybrid Fiber Coax. 2. (hardware) HFC - hydrofluorocarbon. ) standards. In this partnership, AMD (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, www.amd.com) A major manufacturer of semiconductor devices including x86-compatible CPUs, embedded processors, flash memories, programmable logic devices and networking chips. intends to develop integrated circuits Integrated circuits Miniature electronic circuits produced within and upon a single semiconductor crystal, usually silicon. Integrated circuits range in complexity from simple logic circuits and amplifiers, about 1/20 in. (1. (ICs) for communications products based on Com21's broadband ATM cable technology. AMD, a leading supplier of Ethernet LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. and other ICs for the communications market, is assisting Com21 in the integration of off-the-shelf components for current products and will co-develop next-generation ICs with Com21. These specialized ICs will enable the market for data over cable with low-cost, high-performance cable modem solutions. AMD intends to offer these ICs and derivative products to the general market. "There is tremendous potential for cable modems wherever people are using computers in residential environments today," said Bob Krueger Robert Charles Krueger (born September 19, 1935), American politician, is a former U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Texas, a former U.S. Ambassador, and a member of the Democratic Party. Born in New Braunfels, Texas, Krueger earned a B.A. , vice president of AMD's I/O (Input/Output) The transfer of data between the CPU and a peripheral device. Every transfer is an output from one device and an input to another. See PC input/output. I/O - Input/Output and network products division. "People need a high-speed pipe for data transmissions to support on-line graphics and multimedia, as well as to permit remote access to corporate LANs. Our development efforts with Com21 will help drive down the cost of implementing this pipe while increasing overall system performance." "Many of the major cable television system operators we've talked with are interested in high-volume, low-cost manufacturing capability," said Pete Fenner, president of Com21. "The support of open standards and resultant ICs from a company like AMD will ensure that the industry can cost-effectively meet anticipated product demand. This is yet another step by Com21 to assist the industry with an end-to-end solution based on open standards." A decisive factor in the AMD/Com21 relationship was Com21's ATM architecture, which supports voice as well as data services. Cable TV operators have been asking for communications solutions, which will allow them the flexibility to add new services, such as telephony, without stranding their existing investments. "Telecom deregulation Deregulation The reduction or elimination of government power in a particular industry, usually enacted to create more competition within the industry. Notes: Traditional areas that have been deregulated are the telephone and airline industries. has created a huge opportunity for the cable operators to enter the telephone business here in the United States," said Andy Mills, communications technology manager at AMD. "Com21's flexible architecture and protocols support a mixed voice and data environment using ATM as the main transport, making it an ideal fit against a background of growing ATM usage in both telecom and Internet backbones." Cable modems will have a major impact on the residential market for data access as they take advantage of the high-bandwidth characteristics of coaxial cable, which allows data rates roughly 1,000 times faster than traditional dial-up networks. Additionally, the use of ATM over these networks permits cable operators to allocate bandwidth based on customer usage. Cable operators will be able to offer customers Internet access, e-mail, telecommuting telecommuting, an arrangement by which people work at home using a computer and telephone, transmitting work material to a business office by means of a modem and telephone lines; it is also known as telework. and desktop video conferencing, based upon their specific bandwidth needs. The U.S. market for cable modems, according to Forrester Research, will reach 7.7 million units by the year 2000. About AMD AMD is a global supplier of integrated circuits for the personal and networked computer and communications markets. AMD produces processors, flash memories, programmable logic devices and products for communications and networking applications. Founded in 1969 and based in Sunnyvale, AMD had revenues of $2.5 billion in 1995 (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :AMD). About Com21 Com21 Inc. designs, manufactures and markets communication products including a cable modem ATM-based platform, which delivers high speed data networking applications to residential, educational and commercial users via the cable TV network. For further information, visit Com21's World Wide Web site at http://www/Com21.com/. The company's corporate headquarters are located in Mountain View, Calif. This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including the timely development and market acceptance of new products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, the timely development of wafer fabrication process technologies, the effect of changing economic conditions, and such risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the company's SEC reports. -0- Note to Editors: Product names used in this publication are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective companies. World Wide Web -- Press announcements and other information about AMD are available on the Internet via the World Wide Web. Type http://www.amd.com at the URL URL in full Uniform Resource Locator Address of a resource on the Internet. The resource can be any type of file stored on a server, such as a Web page, a text file, a graphics file, or an application program. prompt. Readers may obtain additional information by calling 800/222-9323 or 408/749-5703. AMD, the AMD logo and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices Inc. CONTACT: AMD Public Relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most Jim Lochmiller, 408/749-2791 or Com21 Corporate Communications Sandy Gordon, 415/335-1715 |
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