Intersil's USB Medium Access Controller Reduces BOM Costs by Eliminating Costly, Board-consuming Flash Memory.

Business Editors

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 6, 2001

New HFA3842 MAC connects PRISM(R) II directly to the Universal Serial Bus (USB) port

Intersil Corporation (Nasdaq:ISIL), the world's leading developer of silicon technology for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), announced today its Medium Access Controller (MAC) that reduces Bill-of-Materials (BOM) costs and features a popular USB interface for embedded WLAN applications as well as stand-alone external WLAN modules. BOM savings are achieved by replacing expensive, large footprint flash memory with a smaller Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-only Memory (E2PROM). The E2PROM's smaller size saves board space and cost.

Designed with both PCMCIA and USB (V1.1) host interfaces, the HFA3842 MAC comes with easy-to-install PCMCIA or USB firmware that configures the bus for PCMCIA or USB operation with the PRISM II WLAN chip set. These configurations provide direct interface with either the USB or the PCMCIA interface. The new MAC supports the IEEE 802.11b standard's data rate of 11 megabits-per-second (Mbps). The PCMCIA/USB MAC will allow Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) to easily add a USB interface into next-generation IEEE 802.11b wireless networking products for the home and office.

"USB is rapidly becoming the predominate port in both the PC and set-top box market because of its user-friendly plug-and-play operation for easy installation of peripheral devices," said Larry Ciaccia, vice president and general manager of PRISM Wireless Products at Intersil. "The PRISM USB MAC underscores Intersil's commitment to deliver a broad range of solutions that address the requirements of existing as well as emerging applications and to continually look for ways to develop cost effective end user solutions."

Ease-of-use has increased the popularity of USB since its introduction in 1995. A USB port eliminates the need for many different PC ports (serial, parallel, mouse, monitor, and keyboard). With USB, multiple peripherals such as printers, scanners, backup devices, wireless networking devices and modems are easily added without opening the PC's chassis.

The E2PROM enables OEMs' end customers to perform easy-to-install field firmware upgrades by simply downloading firmware much like downloading new driver software.

Technical Features

The HFA3842 is a drop-in, pin-for-pin replacement of the HFA3841, the existing 11 Mbps MAC for the PRISM II chip set, and only requires an included firmware upgrade for it to work with the other PRISM II chips. Intersil's new MAC is designed to provide maximum performance with minimum power consumption for high speed, direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) wireless networking systems. Low power consumption is critical, since products will likely be powered via the USB connection and this significantly limits the amount of current the chip set can consume.

The HFA3842 provides full implementation of the MAC protocol specified in the IEEE 802.11b high rate DS standard. When utilized with the PRISM II chip set, the device is capable of delivering wireless data, voice and video at transmission speeds of 11 Mbps. It also achieves fallback rates of 5.5, 2 and 1 Mbps making it interoperable with legacy 802.11 DSSS systems. Since protocol support is implemented in firmware, the MAC offers greater flexibility including protocol customization and different PHY transceivers.

Pricing and Availability

Packaged in 128-pin LQFPs optimized for Type II PCMCIA cards, the HFA3842 is now in full production and priced at $12.52 in 100K quantities. An evaluation board, firmware, Microsoft(R) Windows(R) software device drivers and complete documentation are also available. For further information, including a complete datasheet and application notes, visit Intersil's PRISM homepage at www.intersil.com/prism.

Adoption of PRISM WLAN Technology

Since introducing the PRISM WLAN chip set in 1996, over fifty companies have incorporated PRISM chips in more than 100 product designs. In a May 2000 report, Cahners In-Stat Group called Intersil "the dominant force in the WLAN chip set marketplace with their PRISM chipsets holding the majority of market share." PRISM technology is designed to comply with the IEEE's 802.11b global standard, and Intersil is a founding sponsor of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA), whose Wi-Fi(TM) brand is a mark of compatibility for 802.11b-based systems. PRISM/work(TM) and PRISM/home(TM) products are used in WLAN systems from industry-leading companies including Alcatel, Cisco, Compaq, 3Com, Dell, D-Link, Linksys, Nokia, Nortel, Samsung, Scientific-Atlanta, Siemens, SOHOware, Sony, SpectraLink, Symbol and Zoom.

About Intersil

Intersil is a leading supplier of semiconductors, reference designs and software for wireless access and communications analog markets. Intersil applies analog, mixed-signal and radio frequency (RF) expertise to products that enable wireless access to broadband media; provide reliable power management for PCs, files servers and portable information appliances; and convert analog and digital signals in cellular and Internet infrastructure. For more information about Intersil, visit the company's Internet homepage at www.intersil.com.

This press release contains information relating to certain projections and business trends concerning the WLAN market that are forward looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based upon management's current expectations, estimates, beliefs, assumptions, and projections about our business and industry. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will" and variations of these words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward looking statements. Furthermore, any forward-looking statements and projections made by others in this press release are not adopted by Intersil Holding Corporation ("Intersil") and Intersil is not responsible for the forward-looking statements and projections of others. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, our actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various risk factors. Important risk factors that may cause such material differences for Intersil in connection with WLAN market include, but are not limited to, the rate at which our present and future customers and end-users adopt Intersil's wireless technologies and products; the timing, rescheduling or cancellation of significant customer orders; the loss of a key customer; the qualification, availability and pricing of competing products and technologies and the resulting effects on sales and pricing of our products; silicon wafer pricing and the availability of foundry and assembly capacity and raw materials; intellectual property disputes; as well as other risk factors detailed from time to time in Intersil's filings with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission ("SEC") which you may obtain for free at the SEC's website www.sec.gov. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and Intersil undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements.& Exchange Commission ("SEC") which you may obtain for free at the SEC's website www.sec.gov. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and Intersil undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements.

Note to Editors:

PRISM is a registered trademark and PRISM/work and PRISM/home are trademarks of Intersil Americas Inc. Wi-Fi is a trademark of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance. All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.