Cirrus Logic Introduces Industry's First X2 Controllerless Modem Chipset with Integrated PCI Interface.

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 17, 1997--

New Controllerless Modem Chipset Provides Industry with Most

Cost-Effective x2-Based 56K Solution

Cirrus Logic Inc. (NASDAQ:CRUS) today strengthened its position in the rapidly growing 56K(a) modem market with its announcement of the industry's first x2 controllerless modem chipset (CL-MD56XXT) featuring an integrated Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) interface.

This highly-integrated, two-chip data/fax/voice solution combines a high-bandwidth DSP with integrated plug-and-play capabilities and advanced modem features to enable OEMs to create a low-cost, fully featured, x2-based modem chipset that exceeds Microsoft's PC 97 requirements.

The CL-MD56XXT employs the popular x2 protocol that delivers high-speed data transfer rates of up to 56 kbps and guarantees interoperability with the more than 1000 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) who now offer 56K x2 technology to millions of online subscribers worldwide. In addition, Cirrus Logic-based modems have the flexibility to support the evolving ITU standard via a simple software download and thus protect the end-user's investment from becoming obsolete.

"Our goal was to design a cost-effective, x2-based, 56K solution for the mainstream PC market without jeopardizing performance," said Art Swift, vice president of marketing for Cirrus Logic's PC Products Division. "By combining our advanced modem capabilities with an integrated PCI interface and the power of today's host CPUs, we not only designed a high-performance solution that rivals any current 56K modem chipset on the market today, but we also created the industry's most cost-effective x2-based modem chipset."

Integrated PCI Interface

The chipset's integrated PCI interface allows the device to transfer data from the modem's DSP to the host system's CPU at a faster speed than current ISA-based 56K solutions. The integrated PCI interface also eliminates the need for ISA bridge chips, reducing chip count, board space requirement and cost of a 56K solution.

Scalable Platform

The CL-MD56XXT is based on Cirrus Logic's innovative FastPath telephony platform. Each component in the chipset is highly integrated using Cirrus Logic's state-of-the-art process technology. The result is a robust platform with low power requirements and high performance. FastPath's scalability allows the addition of computer telephony features such as speakerphone and telephone emulation as well as the future addition of DSVD and ACPI power management.

Comprehensive Telephony Features

Since voice telephony is becoming increasingly important in modem-based products, the CL-MD56XXT offers an integrated telephony interface that enables the device to support today's popular telephone functions including, Caller ID and voice mail as well as answering machine capabilities such as tone generation and detection and call progress control. In addition, the CL-MD56XXT's full-duplex echo cancellation and digital speakerphone offers the latest technology for hands-free computer telephony. All voice features are fully compliant with Microsoft's Unimodem V and TAPI standards, and all voice commands comply with IS-101 voice command standards.

Minimal-Component Design

With the addition of only minimum SRAM, NVRAM and a crystal, no additional components are needed to add a PCI interface or plug-and play functionality. As a result, Cirrus Logic's highly integrated chipset solution simplifies the modem design and reduces the power consumption.

Accelerating Time-To-Market

To help reduce OEM design cost and time-to-market, Cirrus Logic offers a reference design kit for use and modification by customers. The design documentation includes schematics, bill of materials, fabrication drawings and MS-DOS or Windows-based OrCAD(R) files -- plus a reference board design featuring the new FastPath 56K controllerless modem chipset.

56K Product Portfolio

With this announcement Cirrus Logic broadens its x2-based, 56K product line of modem chipsets to include both controllerless and controller-based versions. Cirrus Logic's controller-based FastPath 56K solution with x2 technology has been in volume production since March 4, 1997.

The CL-MD56XX builds on Cirrus Logic's innovative FastPath V.34+ architecture, incorporating a powerful 32-bit ARM RISC processor, that is responsible for handling the modems low-level tasks, relieving the host CPU to focus on other more data-intensive tasks. This controller-based solution was Cirrus Logic's original entry into the 56K market and it continues to capture design wins with an increasing number of modem manufacturers.

Pricing/Packaging/Availability

The CL-MD56XXT controllerless modem chipset is packaged in a 160-pin plastic quad flat pack (PQFP) and 176-pin very-tight-pitch quad flat pack (VQFP). Sample quantities are available now; pricing is set at $28 each in volume quantities.

Cirrus Logic

Cirrus Logic is a premier supplier of system-level integrated circuits that demand high-performance mixed-signal processing. The company applies its system expertise to enable high-volume applications in data storage, networking, and multimedia for both computing and consumer electronics markets as well as ultra-high- precision data acquisition applications for industrial automation and instrumentation markets. -0-

Note to Editors: Cirrus Logic news releases may be obtained by fax by dialing 800/359-6414, or by dialing 510/249-4200 from outside the United States, or via the Internet on the world wide web at http://www.cirrus.com/

Cirrus Logic is a registered trademark and FastPath is a trademark of Cirrus Logic Inc. All other product names noted herein may be trademarks of their respective holders.

(a) Cirrus Logic's FastPath 56K modem chipsets are capable of 56 kbps

downloads. However, current FCC power regulations limit download

speeds to 53.33 kbps.

CONTACT: Cirrus Logic Inc.

Lang Tibbils, 510/249-4244

[e-mail]

or

Tsantes & Associates

Christian Bateman, 408/369-1500

[e-mail]