Mindspeed Announces BroadbandMaker Triple-Play Access Firmware for TSP3 Network Processors.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- New Firmware Enables Industry's Most Cost-Effective Programmable Internetworking and Traffic Management Solution for Today's "Triple-Play" Broadband Networks 

Mindspeed Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:MSPD), a leading supplier of semiconductor solutions for network infrastructure applications, today announced the release of BroadbandMaker(TM) firmware for its TSP3 access network processors, which is designed to enable cost-effective access aggregation, protocol interworking, Internet Protocol multicasting and Quality of Service (QoS) for development of "triple-play" voice, video, and data access equipment. BroadbandMaker is the latest product in the growing suite of software applications for Mindspeed's third-generation TSP3 network processors.

When used in combination with Mindspeed's M27481 TSP3 access network processor, BroadbandMaker firmware provides more than 2.0 Gbps of processing throughput for Ethernet-to-ATM interworking, ATM cell switching, IP multicasting and a combination of customizable per-subscriber traffic management capabilities, ensuring prioritized delivery of value-added services and flows to broadband customers.

Offering the lowest cost per megabit of throughput for QoS-enabled access linecard processing, BroadbandMaker provides all of the necessary traffic management building blocks for supporting high-value triple-play services which are finely tuned to each subscriber's needs within an oversubscribed access network.

"Mindspeed's BroadbandMaker solution provides a unique combination of services and features that economically address the key transitions affecting broadband access infrastructure equipment, making the product well-suited for linecards in IP-DSLAMs, next-generation digital loop carriers, passive optical network line terminations, and optical network units," said Kurt Michel, product marketing manager for Mindspeed's Broadband Internetworking Systems business unit. "Our TSP-based firmware solution enables the migration from ATM to Ethernet in the access aggregation network, and combines the QoS, multicast, and throughput capabilities needed for services like High-Definition IPTV delivery, which require far more than the 'best effort' capabilities of previous generation broadband access equipment."

"Building on the fine-grained traffic management capabilities of Mindspeed's TSP3 hardware, the company's BroadbandMaker firmware enables the mixing of voice, video, and data in IP multicast bandwidth-expansion environments," said Sanjay Iyer, senior analyst at The Linley Group and co-author of the report A Guide To Access Processors. "Because the access-targeted TSP3 27480 and 27481 processors cost-effectively enable triple-play IP-DSLAMs at aggregate downlink speeds up to 2 Gbps, they are suitable building blocks for the next-generation access network."

Technical Details

Rich multicast support for up to 1K groups, including IGMP snooping and hardware-accelerated data replication, provides a solid platform for developing IPTV solutions, while the aggregate throughput ensures adequate bandwidth for delivering HDTV content for more than 48 ADSL2+/VDSL modems. Relative priorities and bandwidth of multicast and unicast traffic may be specified on a per-flow basis while global data replication rate limits can be set to govern bandwidth expansion.

For high-performance access network processing, the M27480 and M27481 TSP3 devices provide integrated SRAM for low latency channel storage consistent with the needs of remote DSLAMs, DSLAM linecards, and FTTx/PON OLT and "cabinet/curb" linecards. The result is an industry-leading price/performance ratio for these applications. In addition, hardware features, cost, power consumption, and board space have been carefully optimized for maximum suitability in access environments.

Egress QoS-enabling capabilities include multi-class hierarchical scheduling, shaping, and latency control mechanisms, built on a completely non-blocking multiport/multirate high-availability architecture. Ingress traffic management capabilities include per-flow policing, class and flow-based buffer allocation, and WRED congestion management. In addition, flexible stacked VLAN tag mapping, manipulation, and modification capabilities support a variety of network topologies, including VPNs/VPLS and hardware platform sharing by multiple service providers.

BroadbandMaker is the newest offering in Mindspeed's suite of TSP3 application firmware, which is recognized for proven, reliable performance, and is fully supported by Mindspeed's world-class Application Engineering team. BroadbandMaker firmware extends and enhances the capabilities established by Mindspeed's successful PortMaker firmware products, widely used on Router ATM linecards. This product lineage establishes BroadbandMaker firmware as a solid, reliable foundation for developing next-generation access equipment. Offered with no license fee, BroadbandMaker firmware may be used as-is, or as a foundation for developing custom features and capabilities. Additionally, Mindspeed will continue to incorporate new BroadbandMaker features consistent with market needs.

Pricing and Availability

Mindspeed's M27480 and M27481 TSP3 access network processors are currently sampling to customers, and BroadbandMaker firmware is now available for demonstration and customer use. Per-unit pricing in quantities of 1,000 units is $99 for the M27480 and $140 for the M27481.

About Mindspeed Technologies(R)

With headquarters in Newport Beach, Mindspeed Technologies Inc. designs, develops and sells semiconductor networking solutions for communications applications in enterprise, access, metropolitan and wide area networks.

The company's four key product families include high-performance analog transmission and switching solutions, multi-service access products designed to support voice and data services across wireline and wireless networks, T/E carrier physical-layer and link-layer devices, and ATM/MPLS network processors.

Mindspeed's products are used in a wide variety of network infrastructure equipment including voice and media gateways, high-speed routers, switches, access multiplexers, cross-connect systems, add-drop multiplexers and digital loop carrier equipment.

To learn more, visit the company at www.mindspeed.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements relating to Mindspeed, and 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, and actual events that occur, 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 cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and the markets addressed by the company's and its customers' products; availability of capital needed for the company's business; 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; fluctuations in manufacturing yields; product obsolescence; the ability to develop and implement new technologies and to obtain protection for the related intellectual property; the successful implementation of the company's expense reduction and restructuring initiatives; the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; and the uncertainties of litigation, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.