SMSC's SIO1049 Brings New Level of Consumer Experience to Media Center PC Platforms; Industry's First Embedded Consumer IR Receiver/Controller for Media Center Systems Running the Upcoming Release of Windows Vista.

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. -- SMSC (Nasdaq: SMSC) today introduced its SIO1049 Media Center Consumer IR (CIR) controller at Microsoft's WinHEC conference in Seattle, WA. Supported by Microsoft drivers, the SIO1049 will enable Media Center PCs running the upcoming release of Windows Vista to act and appear more like consumer electronic devices than personal computers. For the first time, users will be able to utilize the remote control to wake a Media Center system from low-power consumption sleep modes (S4, S5) versus going into standby mode (S3) only, a key feature enabled by this industry-first device. Independent Hardware Vendors will be able to integrate CIR receiver functionality into their Media Center platforms rather than being supported through an external USB-based dongle. This provides for a lower system cost that can be passed on to the end consumer.

"We're pleased to work with SMSC to bring the kind of remote control capabilities that consumers associate with other consumer electronics to Windows Vista Media Center PCs," said Todd Rutherford, Home Control Program Manager - eHome at Microsoft. "Innovative companies like SMSC are crucial to realizing the promise of Windows Vista by creating new and exciting possibilities for the use of the PC in the home."

"Simplifying consumer IR remote control attachment will speed the adoption by consumers of Vista Media Center PCs and laptops," said Richard Doherty, Research Director for The Envisioneering Group. "Also, the SIO1049's ability to power down and wake from hibernate mode will both delight consumers concerned with energy savings and empower PC makers to address growing PC energy rules in many geographies."

In addition to the native CIR capabilities, the SIO1049 offers greater power management and lower power consumption. For example, unlike today's platforms with remote capabilities that cannot turn fans off and will lose content if power is lost, Windows Vista Media Center Edition platforms go into a deeper sleep and content is saved even if power is lost. The SIO1049 enables "wakeup" that, again, is similar to turning on a consumer electronic device using remote control.

"This was a cooperative development focused on enhancing remote capabilities of Windows Vista platforms regardless of the form factor: for example, doubling the number of IR emitters supported, and adding another IR receiver and supporting future, premium internal cable and satellite tuners," said Rolf Mahler, Director of Product Marketing at SMSC. "As an integrated, internal CIR solution, the SIO1049 takes up minimal space on the motherboard at a 50% cost reduction over existing devices. And by eliminating the dongle, we give consumers back a USB port."

Key Features

The SIO1049 Media Center Consumer IR controller supports Remote Control Input, IR learning, IR emitting and System wake functionalities.

The SIO1049 remote control inputs supports all IR protocols required to be compliant with Windows Vista transceiver or receiver hardware requirements in addition to protocols supported by previous versions of Windows XP Media Center Edition. This IR port also supports the ability to send and receive IR simultaneously. IR learning provides the ability to capture both raw IR data streams and IR carrier frequency. IR emitting capabilities support up to four independent IR transmitter jacks.

A 3.3V PC99, PC2001, and ACPI 2.0 compliant Super I/O controller, the SIO1049 resides on the LPC interface allowing full ACPI power control, enabling system wake from S1, S3, S4 and S5 sleep modes. The SIO1049 incorporates a 16C550A compatible UART, one Multi-Mode(TM) parallel port with ChiProtect(TM) circuitry plus EPP and ECP support and 14 GPIO pins. It does not require any external filter components and features Software Configurable Logic (SCL) for ease of use.

The SIO1049 comes in a 64-pin STQFP (7x7mm) package for minimum motherboard space requirements, modularity and build-to-order capability.

Availability and Pricing:

Samples of the SMSC SIO1049 are available now with anticipated production quantities in the fourth quarter of 2006. Pricing will be $3.95 per unit (U.S. list price) in OEM quantities.

About SMSC:

Many of the world's most successful global technology companies rely upon SMSC as a go-to resource for semiconductor system solutions that span analog, digital and mixed-signal technologies. Leveraging substantial intellectual property, integration expertise and a comprehensive global infrastructure, SMSC solves design challenges and delivers performance, space, cost and time-to-market advantages to its customers. SMSC's application focus targets key vertical markets including mobile and desktop PCs, servers, consumer electronics, automotive infotainment and industrial applications. The Company has developed leadership positions in its select markets by providing application specific solutions such as mixed-signal PC system controllers, non-PCI Ethernet, ARCNET, MOST and Hi-Speed USB.

SMSC is headquartered in Hauppauge, New York with operations in North America, Asia and Europe. Engineering design centers are located in Arizona, New York, Texas and Karlsruhe, Germany. Additional information is available at www.smsc.com.

SMSC is a registered trademark and MultiMode and ChiProtect are trademarks of Standard Microsystems Corporation. Product names and company names are trademarks of their respective holders.