News & Events
Intersil and Scientific-Atlanta Showcase Interactive,
Wireless Networking for the Home
Scientific-Atlanta to use PRISM 802.11b wireless to deliver interactive
streaming video, Internet browsing and MP3 audio at cable industry’s biggest show
IRVINE, CA and ATLANTA, November 29, 2000 — Intersil (NASDAQ: ISIL), the world’s leading developer of silicon technology for IEEE 802.11b Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), announced today a powerful demonstration of wireless technology using Explorer® digital interactive set-tops by Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. (NYSE:SFA), a leading supplier of digital interactive networks and set-top boxes.
Scientific-Atlanta is demonstrating an Explorer set-top that wirelessly connects to a free-roaming laptop, providing live TV programming, MP3 audio and Internet browsing to consumers. Scientific-Atlanta’s Explorer set-top, when coupled with Intersil’s PRISM® technology, is expected to deliver revolutionary, easy-to-use and interactive services to any point in the home, without wires.
"With the cable industry looking closely at the advantages of broadband Internet access, we’re pleased to have the opportunity at this conference to demonstrate how PRISM wireless technology can support this initiative," said Greg Williams, CEO and president of Intersil Corporation. "The cable industry is making great strides in delivering a broadband pipeline into homes. With 802.11b wireless, we can take this advantage a step further by putting this broadband content at users’ fingertips wherever they are in a home or office setting."
At the Scientific-Atlanta booth, visitors will see a live demonstration of a set-top box using Intersil’s PRISM wireless technology. The Scientific-Atlanta set-top will be connected to a headend cable system and wirelessly communicate with a free-roaming laptop. From the laptop, show attendees will enjoy live Web browsing, listen to streaming MP3 audio, and watch an interactive television program —all simultaneously. In addition, all of the functionality of the set-top —controlling power to entertainment units, or operating the interactive program guide, for instance —can be controlled through the PRISM-enabled laptop using a remote control displayed on the screen.
"IEEE 802.11b is emerging as the preferred technology for wireless interfaces," said Bob McIntyre, CTO of Scientific-Atlanta. "We are excited to show this advanced technology to Western Cable Show attendees. Intersil’s PRISM 802.11b wireless solution is an ideal complement to our Explorer set-top box and network platform with the necessary bandwidth to support the many features of our advanced digital interactive set-top. Being wireless, it eliminates the cost and aggravation of installing wiring while providing the freedom to work or play anywhere in the home."
The annual Western Cable Show takes place November 28 — December 1 at the Los Angeles Convention Center and is one of the nation’s leading cable and telecommunications industry conferences. Scientific-Atlanta’s Explorer set-tops and interactive network, which deliver an array of customized services, will be demonstrated at their booth (#1639).
Adoption of PRISM WLAN Technology
Since introducing the PRISM WLAN chip set in 1996, over fifty companies have incorporated PRISM chips in more than 100 product designs. In a May 2000 report, Cahners In-Stat Group called Intersil "the dominant force in the WLAN chip set marketplace with their PRISM chip sets holding the majority of market share." PRISM technology is designed to comply with the IEEE’s 802.11 global standard, and Intersil is a founding sponsor of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA), whose Wi-Fi™ brand is a mark of compatibility for 802.11-based systems. PRISM/work™ and PRISM/home™ products are used in WLAN systems from industry-leading companies including Alcatel, Cisco, Compaq, 3Com, Dell, D-Link, Nokia, Nortel, Samsung, Scientific-Atlanta, SOHOware, SpectraLink, Symbol, and Zoom.
About Scientific-Atlanta
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. (NYSE:SFA) (http://www.scientificatlanta.com) is a leading supplier of transmission networks for broadband access to the home, digital interactive set-tops and subscriber systems designed for video, high speed Internet, and voice over IP (VoIP) networks, and worldwide customer service and support.
About Intersil
Irvine, California-based Intersil is a leading supplier of semiconductors, reference designs and software for wireless access and communications markets. Intersil applies analog, mixed-signal and radio frequency (RF) expertise to products that enable wireless access to broadband media; provide reliable power management for PCs, files servers and portable information appliances; and convert analog and digital signals in cellular and Internet infrastructure. For more information about Intersil, visit the company's Internet homepage at www.intersil.com.
This press release contains statements relating to the home WLAN market that are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based upon management's current expectations, estimates, beliefs, assumptions, and projections about our business and our industry. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will" and variations of these words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward looking statements. Furthermore, any forward-looking statements and projections made by others in this press release are not adopted by Intersil Holding Corporation ("Intersil") and Intersil is not responsible for the forward-looking statements and projections of others. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, our actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in the forward looking statements as a result of various risk factors. Important risk factors that may cause such material differences for Intersil in connection with the home WLAN market include, but are not limited to, the rate at which consumers adopt set-top boxes and wireless connectivity; the rate at which our present and future customers and end-users adopt Intersil's wireless technologies and products; our ability to obtain FCC approval and WECA certification on next generation wireless products, the timing, rescheduling or cancellation of significant customer orders; the loss of a key customer; the qualification, availability and pricing of competing products and technologies and the resulting effects on sales and pricing of our products; silicon wafer pricing and the availability of foundry and assembly capacity and raw materials; the inability to retain key employees; intellectual property disputes; as well as other risk factors detailed from time to time in Intersil’s filings with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission ("SEC") which you may obtain for free at the SEC’s website www.sec.gov. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and Intersil undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements.
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PRISM is a registered trademark and PRISM/home and PRISM/work are trademarks of Intersil Corporation.
Explorer is a registered trademark of Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
