RF Solutions and Ellipsis Digital Systems Sign Strategic Partnership Agreement; Companies to Leverage Strengths in Joint WLAN Chipset Development Effort.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

NORCROSS, Ga. & CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 26, 2002

RF Solutions Inc., a leading supplier of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) RFIC's, and Ellipsis Digital Systems Inc., a leading semiconductor technology company that develops integrated silicon and software solutions for broadband communications systems, today announced that they have engaged in a strategic partnership to develop a dual-band (5GHz, 2.4 GHz) multi-protocol wireless LAN chipset for network interface cards, access points and gateways.

In addition to 802.11a, the new wireless solution will support 802.11b and the recently drafted 802.11g protocols. Leveraging the radio strength of RF Solutions and the digital communications expertise of Ellipsis, this agreement includes joint collaboration on the design and development of their respective multi-standard WLAN solutions to ensure compatibility.

Ellipsis is offering its E-1100 ISiS(TM) (Integrated Silicon and Software) Platform for 802.11a and E-2000 ISiS Platform for a multi-standard 802.11a/b/g solution. Both products feature an integrated MAC, PHY and Digital Conversion and Compensation System to offer dramatic savings in gate count and power consumption while extending operational range. RF Solutions is offering its RFS W5100 WiFLEX(TM) dual-band transceiver and RFS P5910 dual-band power amplifier. The RFS W5100 enables either DSSS or OFDM modulation at both 2.4GHz and 5GHz to allow a seamless transition across bands for maximum data rates and throughput.

The demand for high-speed functionality and increased network capacity is driving development and deployment of 802.11a systems. The necessity for a low gate count, low power 11a solution to meet these requirements as well as a multi-standard 11a/b/g solution to flexibly address the large installed base of 11b users has never been stronger. RF Solutions and Ellipsis are working together to address this growing market need by offering integrated, high-performance multi-standard WLAN solutions.

"Strategic partnerships are key to the success in wireless networking," stated Mike Hooper, CEO of RF Solutions. "Combining RF Solutions' WiFLEX(TM) and power amplifier expertise with Ellipsis' embedded baseband and MAC solutions will enable our companies to provide innovative and first-to-market WLAN product offerings."

"The combination of RFS' radio expertise and our innovative ISiS Platforms will provide our customers with highly integrated, efficient and high-performance WLAN solutions unmatched in the industry," stated Dr. Hussein S. El-Ghoroury, president and CEO of Ellipsis. "We are pleased with this relationship and look forward to exploring additional joint opportunities."

The RF/Ellipsis partnership will result in the development of a demonstration platform and reference design as well as all appropriate interfaces between each company's respective WLAN solutions. This joint effort is designed to ensure end-customer ease of use when creating a complete WLAN product. Ellipsis' E-1100 will be available this summer, with the E-2000 following shortly thereafter in the fall. RF Solutions' WiFLEX(TM) dual-band multimode RF transceiver samples will be available this spring to its PartnerCHIP(TM) partners and generally available this summer.

About RF Solutions

Founded in 1997, RF Solutions Inc. is a rapidly growing fabless semiconductor company that develops RFICs for the Cellular Telephony, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and fixed broadband wireless access markets. RF Solutions specializes in standard, custom, and semi-custom RFICs and multi-chip modules (MCM). These technologies enable highly integrated, high performance, cost-competitive RF chips for the enterprise and residential markets. RF Solutions is privately held and is based in Norcross. For more information, please visit www.rf-solutions.com.

About Ellipsis Digital Systems

Founded in 2000, Ellipsis Digital Systems specializes in the design and development of innovative embeddable system solutions integrating the MAC, PHY and Digital Conversion and Compensation System elements of broadband communications applications. Leveraging its innovative ISiS(TM) Platform design and proprietary Matched Instruction Set Processor (MISP(TM)) architecture, Ellipsis is delivering complete, fully optimized silicon solutions with the lowest gate count, significantly reduced power consumption, extended operation range and superior performance. Ellipsis Digital is privately held and is based in Carlsbad. For more information, please visit www.ellipsisdigital.com.