Sierra Wireless Selects Analog Devices' and TTPCom's EDGE Technology to Bring High-Speed Wireless Capabilities to PC Laptops with the New AirCard 775.Business Editors 3GSM World Congress 2004 CANNES, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 23, 2004 ADI's Blackfin SoftFone for EDGE Platform and TTPCom's protocol stack software to power new Sierra Wireless Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ: SWIR, TSX: SW) is a wireless communications equipment designer and manufacturer, founded in 1993 and currently headquartered in Richmond, BC, Canada. Sierra's products are sold through indirect channels, such as wireless operators (e.g. AirCard(R) 775 PC Card for EDGE networks. Analog Devices Analog Devices (NYSE: ADI) is an American multinational producer of semiconductor devices. Analog specializes in ADC, DAC, MEMS, and DSP chips for consumer and industrial goods. Analog is presently designing circuits in the 65 nanometer to 3 µm process feature sizes range. , Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : ADI), Sierra Wireless (Nasdaq:SWIR SWIR Short Wavelength Infrared SWIR Software Inspection Report ; TSX TSX Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE before April, 2002) TSX Transfer from Stack Pointer to Index TSX True Space Extension :SW), and TTPCom (LSE LSE - Language Sensitive Editor : TTC TTC Trying To Conceive TTC Toronto Transit Commission TTC Trans Texas Corridor TTC Toutes Taxes Comprises (French) TTC Trident Technical College (North Charleston, SC) TTC Temporary Traffic Control ), announced today that they have teamed up to bring wireless EDGE (Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution) capabilities to laptop computers and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants). Sierra Wireless, the world's leading manufacturer of cellular PC card modems(a), has selected ADI's Blackfin SoftFone for EDGE Platform and TTPCom's protocol stack The set of protocols used in a communications network. A protocol stack is a prescribed hierarchy of software layers, starting from the application layer at the top (the source of the data being sent) to the data link layer at the bottom (transmitting the bits on the wire). software, to power its new AirCard(R) 775 PC Card for the EDGE network. The new Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN See wireless WAN. ) Card will enable mobile users to enjoy higher speed data access while reaching speeds up to three times faster than currently available on existing GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) The first high-speed digital data service provided by cellular carriers that used the GSM technology. GPRS added a packet-switched channel to GSM, which uses dedicated, circuit-switched channels for voice conversations. networks. About the size of a credit card, the Sierra Wireless AirCard 775 is a Class 12 PC Card and the newest addition to the award winning AirCard PC Card series. The AirCard 775 is ideal for mobile professionals who are heavy data users as it allows them to send and receive data at speeds averaging between 100-130 kbps (kilobits per second (unit) kilobits per second - (kbps, kb/s) A unit of data rate where 1 kb/s = 1000 bits per second. This contrasts with units of storage where 1 Kb = 1024 bits (note upper case K). ). The quadband design (850/900/1800/1900 MHz (MegaHertZ) One million cycles per second. It is used to measure the transmission speed of electronic devices, including channels, buses and the computer's internal clock. A one-megahertz clock (1 MHz) means some number of bits (16, 32, 64, etc. ) also enables mobile users to roam globally on both EDGE and GPRS networks. The new Sierra Wireless AirCard 775 - powered by ADI's Blackfin SoftFone for EDGE and TTPCom software - is planned for availability the third quarter of 2004. Analog Devices' Blackfin SoftFone for EDGE platform is the world's first completely RAM-based chipset for the EDGE standard, and incorporates breakthrough advancements in power consumption, cost and size. The platform supports Class 12 EDGE complete with full four-transmit-slot and four-receive-slot operation to ensure the fastest speeds available for sending and receiving data(b). In addition, the platform is based on ADI's Blackfin processor, which provides the signal processing performance and low power consumption required for advanced portable devices. TTPCom's EDGE software is fully integrated with the ADI platform and, with industry leading data rates reaching up to 216 kbps, it enables manufacturers to develop products that fully utilize EDGE networks and facilitates the early deployment of 3G type services. TTPCom's EDGE software also builds on a proven GSM/GPRS base and during 2003 has undergone extensive interoperability testing with leading infrastructure providers, test equipment vendors and wireless operators. "Our partnership with global industry leaders like Analog Devices and TTPCom ensures we continue to offer one of the most advanced wide-area PC Card products in the market," said Jason Cohenour, Senior Vice President Sales for Sierra Wireless. "We remain committed to offering an extensive line of wireless data solutions that offer fast and easy access to new and expanding wireless networks. The new AirCard 775 continues a long and successful tradition for Sierra Wireless of offering innovative mobile solutions that our valued customers have come to depend on." "Sierra Wireless has used Analog Devices' SoftFone platform for years to bring wide-area wireless Internet access to laptop users worldwide," said Christian Kermarrec, Vice President, RF and Wireless Systems, Analog Devices, Inc. "Recognized worldwide as an industry leader in wireless communication solutions, Sierra Wireless's adoption of our proven Blackfin SoftFone for EDGE platform further validates the high-performance, low-power and cost benefits it offers over alternative solutions." "Sierra Wireless has always been on the leading edge of technology implementation, demanding extreme performance and quality from its technology partners," said Richard Walker, Managing Director of the Software Division at TTPCom. "The development of the newest addition to the AirCard family has been very swift and Sierra Wireless will be one of the first to launch an EDGE capable product. The speed of development demonstrates that TTPCom's proven software, dedicated technical support and extensive interoperability testing deliver real time to market benefits for our customers." For additional information on the Sierra Wireless AirCard 775, please visit www.sierrawireless.com/aircard. About Sierra Wireless Sierra Wireless is a leader in delivering highly differentiated wireless solutions that enable our customers to improve their productivity and lifestyle. Sierra Wireless develops and markets the AirCard, the industry-leading wireless PC card line for portable computers; embedded modules for OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) The rebranding of equipment and selling it. The term initially referred to the company that made the products (the "original" manufacturer), but eventually became widely used to refer to the organization that buys the products and wireless applications; the MP line of rugged vehicle-mounted connectivity solutions; and Voq, a line of mobile phones with easy-to-use, secure software solutions for mobile professionals. For more information about Sierra Wireless please visit www.sierrawireless.com. About TTPCom Based in Cambridge, UK, TTPCom Ltd. is the principal operating subsidiary of TTP TTP (thymidine triphosphate): see thymine. Communications plc (LSE: TTC). The company develops intellectual property used in the design and manufacture of wireless communication terminals and during 2003 over 23 million devices using TTPCom's digital cellular technology were sold. TTPCom has established an industry standard with its GPRS platform, offers EDGE, 3G, Wireless LAN and Wireless PAN solutions and, for those manufacturers for whom a fast time to market is critical, TTPCom also offers complete handset and module designs. More information can be found on TTPCom's website at: http://www.ttpcom.com. About Analog Devices, Inc. Analog Devices is a leading manufacturer of precision high-performance integrated circuits used in analog and digital signal processing See DSP. Digital Signal Processing - (DSP) Computer manipulation of analog signals (commonly sound or image) which have been converted to digital form (sampled). applications. The company is headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts, and employs approximately 8,600 people worldwide. It has manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts, California, North Carolina North Carolina, state in the SE United States. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean (E), South Carolina and Georgia (S), Tennessee (W), and Virginia (N). Facts and Figures Area, 52,586 sq mi (136,198 sq km). Pop. , Ireland, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom. Analog Devices' stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) World's largest marketplace for securities. The exchange began as an informal meeting of 24 men in 1792 on what is now Wall Street in New York City. and the company is included in the S&P 500 Index. (a) ABI Abi (ā`bī) [short for Abijah], in the Bible, King Hezekiah's mother. (Application Binary Interface) A specification for a specific hardware platform combined with the operating system. Research, "Cellular PC Card Modems: Device Forecasts and Technology Assessment for Wireless Data Usage," December 2003 (b) Note: maximum 5 timeslots at any time, network service dependent. Blackfin, SoftFone and Othello are registered trademarks of Analog Devices, Inc. "AirCard" and "Voq" are trademarks of Sierra Wireless, Inc.. Other product or service names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, plans and timing for the introduction or enhancement of our services and products, statements about future market conditions, supply conditions, channel and end customer demand conditions, revenues, gross margins, operating expenses Operating expenses The amount paid for asset maintenance or the cost of doing business, excluding depreciation. Earnings are distributed after operating expenses are deducted. , profits, and other expectations, intentions, and plans contained in this press release that are not historical fact. Our expectations regarding future revenues and earnings depend in part upon our ability to successfully develop, manufacture, and supply products that we do not produce today and that meet defined specifications. When used in this press release, the words "plan", "expect", "believe", and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current expectations. They are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in technology and changes in the wireless data communications market. In light of the many risks and uncertainties surrounding the wireless data communications market, you should understand that we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release will be realized. |
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