Analog Devices and Aware Announce Availability of FastADSL Technology; FastADSL Extends Bandwidth To Enable Two Channels Of Broadcast-Quality Video.

Business/Technology Editors

NORWOOD, Mass. and BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 5, 2001

Analog Devices, Inc. (NYSE:ADI), a global leader in high performance semiconductors for signal processing applications, and Aware, Inc. (NASDAQ:AWRE), a leading worldwide source for DSL intellectual property, today announced the availability of FastADSL(TM) technology. FastADSL is a software enhancement to Analog Devices' ADSL chipsets which are found in 8 of the world's top 10 PSTNs (Public Switched Telephone Networks) and designed into more than 75 percent of the world's xDSL systems. With FastADSL, a single telephone line can carry two channels of broadcast-quality (MPEG-2) video, high-speed Internet access and traditional voice services. Coupling the ADI chipset with FastADSL technology enables data rates in excess of 11 Mbps, nearly 200 times faster than V.90 modems.

Since the majority of households currently have more than one television, advanced video services that support two or more separate channels of video simultaneously have tremendous market potential. By adding digital television and video-on-demand (VOD) to their high-speed Internet access and traditional telephony offerings, service providers, such as telephone companies, can now offer a comprehensive bundle of services utilizing their existing ADSL and wireline infrastructure to compete effectively with cable and satellite services.

"The ability to deliver two channels of video is among the most compelling applications of ADSL we've seen to date, and has the potential to truly transform the telecommunications industry," said Russ Johnsen, vice president and general manager, communications products division, Analog Devices, Inc. "To make this important technology a reality we've once again combined ADI's breakthrough signal processing technology and Aware's intellectual property."

"FastADSL is yet another innovation from the Analog Devices and Aware team that provides an economically attractive means for phone companies to leverage their existing equipment to offer high-value consumer services," said Michael Tzannes, president and CEO of Aware. "It provides a cost-effective means for operators to bundle advanced video services into their offerings."

About Analog Devices

With revenues of $772 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2001, Analog Devices is a leading manufacturer of precision high-performance integrated circuits used in analog and digital signal processing applications. The company is headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts and employs approximately 9,800 people worldwide. It has manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts, California, North Carolina, Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Philippines and Taiwan. Analog Devices' stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the company is included in the S&P 500 Index.

About Aware

Aware, Inc. designs, develops, licenses and markets DSL technology that enables broadband communications over existing telephone networks. Its solutions, including splitterless G.lite, full-rate ADSL, VeDSL(TM), Dr. DSL(TM) and DMTflex(TM), address central office as well consumer electronics requirements. The company licenses its intellectual property and software to semiconductor manufacturers and equipment manufacturers who sell products incorporating Aware's technology. Aware also markets to systems companies to encourage them to design its technology into their products, and to service providers to encourage them to deploy new broadband services based on its technology. More information about Aware can be found at http://www.aware.com.

Safe Harbor Warning

Portions of this release contain forward-looking statements regarding future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties, such as estimates or projections of future revenue and earnings and the growth of the DSL market. Aware wishes to caution you that there are some factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results indicated by such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: we have a unique and unproven business model, our quarterly results are difficult to predict, we depend on a limited number of licensees, we depend on equipment companies to incorporate our technology into their products, we face intense competition from other DSL vendors, DSL technology competes with other technologies for broadband access, our business is subject to rapid technological change, and we will require additional engineering personnel. We refer you to the documents Aware files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the section titled Risk Factors in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2000 and other reports and filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission.