Conexant Introduces MPEG-2 Audio/Video Encoder for Worldwide Consumer Electronics Applications.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- Next-Generation Device Improves Audio/Video Quality and Includes Support for Major International Broadcast Audio/Video Standards

Conexant Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CNXT), a worldwide leader in semiconductor solutions for broadband communications, enterprise networks and the digital home, today launched a new MPEG-2 audio/video (A/V) encoder for consumer electronic products including Media Center and entertainment personal computers, set-top boxes, digital television sets and video recording/editing products such as digital video disks (DVD) and personal video recorders. For manufacturers, the high level of integration allows them to reduce bill-of-material costs and component counts. In addition, the ability to use a single chip for multiple product platforms, regardless of geography, reduces overall development costs.

"Our new A/V encoder builds on our existing platform and delivers improved audio and video performance for a broad range of products commonly found in today's digital home," said Jeff Crosby, vice president of Broadband Media Processing Products for Conexant. "This allows our customers to simplify product design and speed time-to-market. Moving forward, we will continue to employ our expertise in MPEG encoding to deliver high-performance, cost-effective broadcast and convergence media silicon solutions."

The CX23418 accepts analog and digital video and audio in a variety of formats and encodes the input using MPEG algorithms to reduce the overall size and bandwidth of the A/V signals. This process allows users to store high-quality video and audio on computers and other digital consumer electronics devices. The new encoder includes several features to ensure high-fidelity audio and superior video. Special capabilities include the ability to cleanly process and convert low-quality video from old VCR tapes and similar sources to digital formats such as DVDs. This revolutionary new feature enables consumers to make the best possible copy of content from bad or unstable video sources. It also includes support for all major worldwide broadcast video standards including NTSC/PAL/SECAM and their associated stereo audio broadcast standards.

The CX23418 interfaces directly to analog video signals, sound intermediate frequency/audio frequency (IF/AF) signals from television tuners, and audio analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), to produce high-quality video and audio MPEG program or transport streams. High-performance video quality is further supported by the integration of 10-bit video ADCs supporting composite, S-video and component formats, 2-D and 3-D adaptive comb filtering, and time-base correction. Other features include an increased motion search range, the decoupling of motion estimation from encoding, an adaptive quantization scheme, and the preservation of six-bit audio samples throughout the audio path to deliver high-fidelity compressed stereo audio. As a result, end-users obtain the best possible picture and sound, even as the data rate is reduced and the recording time is shortened.

The CX23418 includes a broadcast audio decoder that provides automatic standard detection and configuration through an on-board microprocessor. This eliminates the need for user intervention, and is especially useful in geographic areas where different audio standards may be received on a channel-by-channel basis. The chip also supports AES, triple-DES and CPRM encryption technologies to protect content stored on either a hard disk or DVD recordable disk.

Conexant offers a complete suite of components and system solutions for all major consumer video applications ranging from standard and high-definition video to interactive consumer entertainment services delivered through a set-top box, PC, digital video recorder or game console. The company's video and multimedia product offering includes analog and digital video encoders and decoders, PCI video decoders, software and complete reference designs.

Pricing and Availability

Samples of the CX23418 are available now, with volume production scheduled for the first calendar quarter of 2005. The device is packaged in a 23 mm, 388-BGA and priced at $20 each in quantities of 10,000.

About Conexant

Conexant's innovative semiconductor solutions are driving broadband communications, enterprise networks and digital home networks worldwide. The company has leveraged its expertise and leadership position in modem technologies to enable more Internet connections than all of its competitors combined, and continues to develop highly integrated silicon solutions for broadband data and media processing networks.

Key products include client-side xDSL and cable modem solutions, home network processors, broadcast video encoders and decoders, digital set-top box components and systems solutions, and dial-up modems. Conexant's suite of networking components includes a leadership portfolio of IEEE 802.11a/b/g-compliant WLAN chipsets, software and reference designs, as well as solutions for applications based on HomePlug(SM) and HomePNA(TM). The company also offers a complete line of asymmetric and symmetric DSL central office solutions, which are used by service providers worldwide to deliver broadband data, voice, and video over copper telephone lines.

Conexant is a fabless semiconductor company that recorded more than $900 million in revenues in fiscal year 2004. The company has approximately 2,400 employees worldwide, and is headquartered in Newport Beach, Calif. To learn more, please visit us at www.conexant.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements relating to our future results (including certain projections and business trends) that are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the substantial losses the company has incurred recently; the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and the markets addressed by the company's and its customers' products; demand for and market acceptance of new and existing products; successful development of new products; the timing of new product introductions; the availability of manufacturing capacity; pricing pressures and other competitive factors; changes in product mix; product obsolescence; the ability to develop and implement new technologies and to obtain protection for the related intellectual property; the uncertainties of litigation; and the risk that the businesses of Conexant and GlobespanVirata have not yet been completely and may not be integrated successfully, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Note to Editors: Conexant is a registered trademark of Conexant Systems, Inc. Other brands and names contained in this release are the property of their respective owners.