News & Events
Intersil Joins WECA; Supports WECA Commitment to High-Speed Wireless LAN Market
Joins forces with leading wireless LAN vendors to promote interoperability through testing and certification of 802.11 High Rate-based products
PALM BAY, FL, August 27, 1999 – Intersil Corporation, the leading developer of silicon technology for wireless local area networks (WLANs), today announced its role as a charter sponsor of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA). WECA’s goal is to stimulate wider adoption of the IEEE 802.11 High Rate (HR) standard for fast WLANs. Founded by key wireless industry leaders, WECA will help ensure global, high-speed wireless LAN compatibility and multi-vendor interoperability in the enterprise, small office and home.
PALM BAY, FL, August 27, 1999 Intersil Corporation, the leading developer of silicon technology for wireless local area networks (WLANs), today announced its role as a charter sponsor of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA). WECAs goal is to stimulate wider adoption of the IEEE 802.11 High Rate (HR) standard for fast WLANs. Founded by key wireless industry leaders, WECA will help ensure global, high-speed wireless LAN compatibility and multi-vendor interoperability in the enterprise, small office and home.
"Support of WECA is vital in the realization of global, seamless, high-speed wireless connections for large corporations, small companies, and home users, through deployment of WECA-certified, 802.11 HR standard-based systems," said Chris Henningsen, Intersils vice president of PRISM Wireless Products. "As WLANs become pervasive in these market segments, its crucial that products are truly interoperable. This alliance supports 802.11s HR standard via testing and certification of interoperability to build buyer confidence."
WECA will implement a certification program for 802.11 HR systems that ensures they are completely interoperable, regardless of the manufacturer or brand. The WECA seal can only be displayed on equipment tested and certified by a WECA-designated independent test lab. Although WECA is new to the WLAN marketplace, its sponsors 3Com, Nokia, Lucent Technologies, Intersil, Aironet and Symbol are leaders in their industries.
"In just the few days since the WECA announcement, a lot of excitement has been generated and many other companies have shown interest in joining WECA," said Jim Zyren, Intersils senior manager of strategic marketing for PRISM Wireless Products. "In fact, WECA intends to expand its membership in coming months." Zyren is also co-chair of WECAs Marketing Committee and is active as a voting member of the 802.11 Working Group.
Aside from Intersils involvement in WECA and the IEEE 802.11 Committee, the company plays a role in other well-known industry alliances and specification / standards organizations. These include the Wireless LAN Alliance (WLANA), Bluetooth Special Interest Group (BSIG), and the Home RF Working Group (HRFWG). In the next few weeks, Intersil will announce general sampling of its highly anticipated PRISM II family a high-speed, low-cost chip set developed using advanced silicon germanium (SiGe) technology. PRISM II-based products will deliver better performance, higher transmission speeds, and lower power consumption while reducing costs as compared with existing solutions on the market today.
About WECA
The Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA) provides certification of interoperability for IEEE 802.11 HR standards-based products. With cross-vendor interoperability assured, WLANs will be able to fulfill the promise of high-speed mobile computing. For more information, visit WECAs web site at http://www.wirelessethernet.org.
About Intersil
Intersil Corporation uses analog, mixed-signal, power and radiation-hardening technologies to develop advanced integrated circuits and discrete semiconductors for high-growth segments of the communications, power and space/defense markets. Intersil Corporation will employ 5,800 worldwide and utilize the rich intellectual property heritage from Harris, GE Solid State and RCA. The companys worldwide web site is located at http://www.intersil.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current assumptions and estimates of future performance and economic conditions. Specific risks include worldwide demand and product pricing for integrated circuits, and reductions in the U.S. and worldwide defense and space budgets. In addition, Intersil cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and future trends and events to differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements.
