Cirrus Logic Launches FastPath 56 Kbps Modem Chipset; New chipset supporting U.S. Robotics' high-speed x2 technology is immediately available in volume production.FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 4, 1997--Cirrus Logic Inc. (Nasdaq: CRUS crus (krus) pl. cru´ra [L.] 1. leg (1). 2. a leglike part. crus ce´rebri ) today announced that it has begun volume production of its new 56 kilobits per second (unit) kilobits per second - (kbps, kb/s) A unit of data rate where 1 kb/s = 1000 bits per second. This contrasts with units of storage where 1 Kb = 1024 bits (note upper case K). (Kbps) modem chipset for a number of key customers. Based on Cirrus Logic's powerful FastPath telephony platform, the new software-upgradeable CL-MD56XX chipset supports U.S. Robotics' x2 protocol for high-speed 56 Kbps Internet access See how to access the Internet. . FastPath and x2 technologies combine to offer PC users an early and affordable access to Internet data at nearly twice the speed of current modems that operate over common telephone lines. Through a simple download of software initiated by a PC user, Cirrus Logic's FastPath chipset will also support evolving protocols as well as emerging standards as they become established. Modems based on Cirrus Logic's FastPath platform will offer PC users Internet access at 56 Kbps by taking full advantage of existing infrastructures currently being used by telephone companies and Internet Service Providers Internet service provider (ISP) Company that provides Internet connections and services to individuals and organizations. For a monthly fee, ISPs provide computer users with a connection to their site (see data transmission), as well as a log-in name and password. (ISPs) adopting U.S. Robotics' x2 protocol technology. Indeed, major ISPs such as America Online See AOL. (AOL (A division of Time Warner, Inc., New York, NY, www.aol.com) The world's largest online information service with access to the Internet, e-mail, chat rooms and a variety of databases and services. ) and ANS (ANS Communications, Inc, Purchase, NY) An ISP, Internet backbone and provider of private data network services, founded in 1990 as Advanced Network & Services, Inc., by IBM, MCI and Merit (consortium of Michigan universities). Communications have already begun to deploy x2 technology at their access sites. According to George Alexy, senior vice president of marketing for Cirrus Logic, "Our new FastPath chipset provides OEMs and their customers with the distinct advantage of being software upgradeable to accommodate changing communications protocols. This approach provides an affordable, convenient and low-risk way to access future functional enhancements and standards. As a result, we are seeing momentum build as OEMs and ISPs line up behind Cirrus Logic and US Robotics' x2 technologies to facilitate high-speed Internet access." "We're pleased to see Cirrus Logic reaffirm its endorsement of our x2 technology with the volume production of its new FastPath 56K chipset," said Michael Seedman, vice president and general manager of U.S. Robotics' Personal Communications Division. "We've already had tremendous success with x2, including the support of more than 400 ISPs representing a total of 18 million subscribers. The availability of x2 on the FastPath platform will be instrumental in further accelerating x2's acceptance in the marketplace." The new CL-MD56XX chipset builds upon Cirrus Logic's innovative FastPath V.34+ (MD34XX) telephony platform, a sophisticated architecture that incorporates a powerful 32-bit ARM RISC processor along with a high-bandwidth DSP (1) (Digital Signal Processor) A special-purpose CPU used for digital signal processing applications (see definition #2 below). It provides ultra-fast instruction sequences, such as shift and add, and multiply and add, which are commonly used in math-intensive . This high-performance architecture also concurrently supports additional advanced functions, such as V.80 for videoconferencing, full-duplex speakerphone, the Radish radish, herbaceous plant (Raphanus sativus) belonging to the family Cruciferae (mustard family), with an edible, pungent root sliced in salads or used as a relish. VoiceView protocol, and telephone answering machine capabilities. The MD56XX enhances the architecture with simple and efficient support of external ROM and Flash memory for software upgradeability and 56Kbps support. Support for Standards The first company to release substantive technical contributions for 56 Kbps communications, Cirrus Logic announced its FastPath architecture late last year in anticipation of evolving communications standards. Indeed, the company was one of the first to take a leading position in helping to accelerate the development of a worldwide standard by submitting technical contributions to the Telecommunications Industry Association See TIA. (body, standard) Telecommunications Industry Association - (TIA) An association that sets standards for communications cabling. Cables that TIA set standards for include: EIA/TIA-568A and EIA/TIA-568B category three, four and five cable. (TIA (1) (Telecommunications Industry Association, Arlington, VA, www.tiaonline.org) A membership organization founded in 1988 that sets telecommunications standards worldwide. It was originally an EIA working group that was spun off and merged with the U.S. ). "Cirrus Logic has contributed several technical papers to the TIA standards committee to facilitate the standards process. In addition, we are working with U.S. Robotics to expedite the ITU (International Telecommunication Union, Geneva, Switzerland, www.itu.ch) A telecommunications standards body that is under the auspices of the United Nations. Comprising more than 185 member countries, the ITU sets standards for global telecom networks. standardization of 56K protocols," stated Karl Nordling, vice president of DSP engineering at Cirrus Logic. Pricing and Availability Immediately available, the software-upgradeabale CL-MD56XX chipset is priced at $53.00 in 1,000 quantity. The firmware upgrade code that enables the 56 Kbps data rate will be available in Q2 1997. Cirrus Logic is a leading manufacturer of advanced integrated circuits for the desktop and portable computing, telecommunications and consumer electronics markets. The company applies its system-level expertise in digital and analog design to innovate highly integrated, software-rich solutions. Cirrus Logic's broad portfolio of products and technologies focus on multimedia, communications and mass storage. Additional information about Cirrus Logic and its subsidiaries can be accessed on the World Wide Web at http://www.cirrus.com/ or via fax-on-demand at 800/359-6414 (dial 510/249-4200 from outside the United States). -0- Note to Editors: All trademarks noted herein are registered to their respective owners. CONTACT: Cirrus Logic, Inc. Erin Barrite, 510/226-2239 erinb@corp.cirrus.com Raphael Mehrbians, 510/226-2117 raphael@corp.cirrus.com or Tsantes & Associates Nancy Sheffield, 408/452-8700 nsheffield@tsantes.com |
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