Maxim Integrated Products Licenses Parthus NavStream GPS rF Multi-Chip to Enable Unrivalled Location Accuracy for Mobile-Internet Devices.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif. & SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 21, 2000

NavStream Global Positioning System (GPS) Platform Delivers

Pinpoint Accuracy in Zero Time for Wireless Users in Emergency

Situations or Seeking Location-Based m-Commerce Services

Parthus Technologies plc (Nasdaq:PRTH)(LSE:PRH), a leading developer of semiconductor intellectual property for the Mobile-Internet market, today announced that Maxim Integrated Products (Nasdaq:MXIM), a worldwide leader in design, development and manufacture of linear and mixed-signal integrated circuits, has signed a licensing and royalty agreement for the Parthus NavStream(TM) single chip GPS radio.

Maxim has licensed and is currently integrating the NavStream multi-chip Platform for its global customer base. The single chip radio is designed specifically for implementing GPS in cellular handsets and automobiles, with innovative hardware and software features that maximize sensitivity (-176dbw), eliminate frequency jamming and minimize power consumption.

NavStream is a complete GPS Platform incorporating radio, baseband and software stacks for both mobile phone and automotive markets. Most importantly, the RF receiver offers the best timing resolution (5ns) and the most competitive positional accuracy in the industry (under 5 meters). This outperforms competing solutions by a factor of 60 in terms of positional accuracy. This speed and accuracy is available on any device, whether a mobile phone, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or GPS enabled vehicle.

GPS technology is a critical component for delivering location based Mobile Internet services, providing users with a low cost method of identifying their location with pinpoint accuracy. GPS uses information from satellites and wireless networks to instantly locate any mobile device to within five meters. GPS also puts the user in control, they can decide to disable the GPS if they want to protect their whereabouts at any particular time.

A recent U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandate has dictated that by October 1, 2001, all cellular carriers in the U.S. must be able to instantly locate cellular callers to emergency 911 services. GPS is currently the only technology that satisfies the FCC's requirements. In addition to the FCC legislation, GPS also offers many commercial opportunities to wireless operators through 'location-based m-Commerce.' By harnessing the power of GPS technology, mobile operators can offer users many unique services, including real-time driving directions, traffic information and personalized concierge services, such as nearby restaurants, stores, ATMs and places of interest. As GPS becomes ubiquitous in cars and mobile phones, new services such as automated road toll payment, parking fees and security (if a car or phone is stolen, it will be possible to locate it over the Internet) can be rolled out quickly.

"Maxim is a leading semiconductor company and are an increasingly important player in the wireless world with its recent CDMA product developments," said Kevin Fielding, chief operating officer of Parthus Technologies. "This technology enables location-based services that are viewed by many as the killer application for the rapidly emerging Mobile-Internet market, enabling services such as real-time maps, pinpointing nearest restaurants or banks and locating people."

"We chose Parthus' RF NavStream Platform as it is unmatched in terms of accuracy and power efficiency," said Eric Munroe, executive director of Maxim's Wireless Business Unit. "Clearly, location based technology is a core application to the Mobile Internet. There are tremendous opportunities for those companies that get products to market first, which is the key advantage in licensing NavStream from Parthus."

Commercial terms were not disclosed.

About NavStream(TM)

NavStream is a complete GPS based Platform encompassing Radio, Baseband and Software stacks targeted at mobile phone and automotive markets. NavStream is deployable either in a single chip, GPS radio with GPS baseband integrated into host processor, or uniquely in a 'zero chip' configuration which encompasses a multi-mode GPS/Bluetooth radio and integrated baseband.

The NavStream Platform encompasses:

SiGe RF: Delivers very high sensitivity enabling GPS reception in challenging environments such as in buildings, urban canyons and deep foliage. A key feature is the ability to reject out of band interfering signals - a key issue in cellphone integration.

0.18CMOS GPS/Bluetooth Multi-Mode RF: This highly integrated radio delivers lowest cost for implementing GPS in wireless handsets. When combined with the integrated GPS Baseband, this 'zero chip' deployment delivers, at under $4, the lowest cost in the industry to deploying GPS in handsets. The radio is highly configurable and can operate in either GPS or Bluetooth only mode or combined GPS/Bluetooth mode. Availability in Q3 2001.

NavStream Baseband: Targeted at the ARM 7 processor (and fully AMBA compliant), the NavStream Baseband uniquely enables the vendor to select the number of GPS complex correlators for the device. Extending GPS correlators greatly speeds time to first fix of location.

NavStream Protocol Stacks: An extensive suite of software stacks of tracking, navigation and accuracy. The Platform will also include a GPS DSP that further accelerates time to first fix, particularly in challenging environments such as inside buildings. A range of software enables the Platform to be targeted at wireless handsets, automobiles, timing and avionics markets. All software stacks are modular in architecture minimizing required RAM for embedded environments ([LESS THAN]180kBytes).

NavStream Market Drivers - Users

Meanwhile, NavStream delivers a host of advantages to users. These include:

-- Unrivalled accuracy - While most networked-based location technologies can locate the user to within a range of 100 meters, NavStream utilizes a GPS (network independent) approach to locate the user to within 5 meters

-- Speed - Unlike many GPS technologies, NavStream can pinpoint the location of an individual in a matter of seconds

-- Privacy - Because NavStream does not depend on networks to determine a location, users can choose to keep their location private from third parties

-- Security - The technology incorporated into NavStream ensures that users can signal their location quickly and accurately

-- GPS Everywhere - Being an ultra high sensitive GPS Platform, NavStream can work practically in any environment: cities, inside buildings, urban canyons, deep foliage, remote rural environments. Moreover, GPS operates globally unlike national proprietary standards.

About Parthus Technologies plc

Formed in 1993, Parthus Technologies (formerly SSL) is a leading supplier and developer of semiconductor intellectual property platforms targeting next generation m-Commerce enabled devices and applications such as Bluetooth, MP3 Internet Audio, GPS, Smartphones and 3G Cellular. Drawing on one of the largest IP R&D teams targeting the Mobile-Internet, we unite our expertise in RF IC, DSP, Mixed Signal IC, Digital ASIC and Software in creating IP-platforms which deliver exceptional power, performance, cost and time-to-market advantages to our global customer base. Visit Parthus at www.parthus.com

About Maxim Integrated Products

Established in 1983, Maxim Integrated Products is a worldwide leader in design, development, and manufacture of linear and mixed-signal integrated circuits (ICs). Maxim circuits "connect" the real world and digital world by detecting, measuring, amplifying, and converting real-world signals, such as temperature, pressure, or sound, into the digital signals necessary for computer processing. Net revenues were $864.9 million for the year ended June 24, 2000. The Company has over 3,500 employees at our headquarters in Sunnyvale, California; Beaverton, Oregon; and other offices worldwide. Maxim stock is listed as MXIM on the NASDAQ exchange. Visit Maxim at www.maxim-ic.com

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