Conexant Works with Samsung on Next-Generation CDMA Digital Cellular Telephone.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 7, 1998--Conexant Systems Inc., formerly Rockwell Semiconductor Systems, today announced Samsung Electronics has selected Conexant's recently introduced Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) Radio Frequency (RF) subsystem solution, Topaz, for its next-generation CDMA digital cellular telephone.

"Conexant's innovative CDMA solution raises the RF performance threshold," said Mr. Ki Tae Lee, senior vice president and general manager, Wireless Terminals Division, Samsung Electronics. "The high level of integration reduces both design time and component count, and has helped reduce the time-to-market for our latest CDMA phones." Conexant's Topaz will be used in the Samsung SCH-810 phone that will be introduced in early 1999, as well as several other models which will be announced later next year.

Conexant's three-device Topaz chipset includes the RF250 receiver, the RF251 transmitter and the RF252 CDMA Baseband Analog Processor. These three devices, combined with a power amplifier, provide a complete transmit and receive solution for cellular phones that support CDMA, Advanced Mobile Phone Systems (AMPS) analog cellular service and Personal Communications System (PCS) 1900 modes.

On June 29, 1998 Rockwell International Corp. announced that Rockwell Semiconductor Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary with $1.2 billion in revenues, would be spun off as a separately-traded public company. In preparation for the spin-off, Rockwell in November re-named its semiconductor business Conexant Systems Incorporated. After the spin-off, which is expected to be completed on December 31, 1998, Conexant will be the world's largest independent company focused exclusively on providing semiconductor products for communications electronics. With more than 30 years of experience in developing analog modem technology, the company leverages its expertise in mixed-signal processing and communications technology to deliver integrated systems and semiconductor products for a broad range of communications applications. These products facilitate communications worldwide through wireline voice and data communications networks, cordless and cellular wireless telephony systems, and emerging cable and wireless broadband communications networks. The company aligns its business into five product platforms: Personal Computing, Personal Imaging, Wireless Communications, Digital Infotainment, and Network Access.

Rockwell is a global electronic controls and communications company with leadership positions in industrial automation, avionics and communications, and electronic commerce with 1998 sales of approximately $7 billion and 41,000 employees. On Dec. 31, Rockwell is expected to spin off to shareowners its Semiconductor Systems business, which will be known as Conexant Systems, Inc.