News & Events
Harris PRISM Chips Enable New Voice-over-IP Wireless Telephone System
SpectraLink's NetLink Wireless Telephones use PRISM radio chips
Aironet, Telxon Access Points Support NetLink Wireless Telephone System
MELBOURNE, Fla., June 16, 1999 – Harris PRISM radio chips are used in the new telephone system that combines Voice-over-IP (VoIP) and wireless LAN technologies, announced by SpectraLink Corporation (NASDAQ: SLNK) in early May. The result —wireless telephones that operate over IEEE 802.11 wireless LANs — allows mobile workers to make and receive telephone calls over a shared wireless infrastructure. This important technology advancement – dubbed the NetLink Wireless Telephone System (NetLink WTS) – is supported by leading 802.11 wireless LAN manufacturers, including Aironet and Telxon, which also use Harris PRISM technology in their access points.
MELBOURNE, Fla., June 16, 1999 Harris PRISM radio chips are used in the new telephone system that combines Voice-over-IP (VoIP) and wireless LAN technologies, announced by SpectraLink Corporation (NASDAQ: SLNK) in early May. The result wireless telephones that operate over IEEE 802.11 wireless LANs allows mobile workers to make and receive telephone calls over a shared wireless infrastructure. This important technology advancement dubbed the NetLink Wireless Telephone System (NetLink WTS) is supported by leading 802.11 wireless LAN manufacturers, including Aironet and Telxon, which also use Harris PRISM technology in their access points.
"The NetLink WTS adds telephony capability to 802.11 wireless LANs, thereby allowing management of a single wireless backbone," said Ron Van Dell, vice president and general manager of Harris Semiconductors Communications Products Business. "This is an exciting development for the industry, a big endorsement of the 802.11 standard and a significant opportunity for Harris. Our PRISM chips are used in the NetLink phones and in the access points made by Aironet and Telxon."
The NetLink WTS meets the needs of mobile workers in a single building or campus location. Increasingly, these mobile workers whether in retail stores, schools, hospitals, warehouses or manufacturing plants need both wireless voice and data communications to complete their jobs quickly and efficiently. "The NetLink WTS delivers full-featured wireless telephone capabilities," Van Dell explained. "This adds value to wireless LANs and makes them more cost efficient and easier to manage. I think this is an important step in the emergence of truly useful WLANs."
Harris has been very actively involved in the development of complete solutions for wireless networking for several years. The PRISM radio chip set and accompanying PRISM Reference Design provide a complete, FCC approved data communications radio for use in the 2.4GHz band. Harris has also been actively involved on the IEEE 802.11 standards committee, the Wireless LAN Alliance (WLANA), the Bluetooth Special Interest Group and the Home RF Working Group. Harris newly introduced PRISM II chip set provides 11Mbps operation, uses Silicon Germanium process technology for lower power consumption and higher integration, and dramatically reduces the complexity and cost involved in manufacturing WLAN adapter cards.
About Harris Semiconductor
Harris Semiconductor manufactures discrete devices and integrated circuits with R&D efforts focused on innovative new products for high-growth segments of the communications, power and space/defense markets. Harris Semiconductors PRISM WLAN chip set is recognized as the industry-leading solution, and has been incorporated into over 100 wireless products from 40 different companies. Harris Semiconductor is being divested by Harris Corporation, as announced June 2, 1999. When the divestiture is complete, Harris Semiconductor will operate as a subsidiary of Sterling Holding LLC, a Citicorp Venture Capital investment portfolio company.
