News & Events
Intersil Signs Strategic Alliance Agreement With Quanta, One of the World’s Leading Notebook Computer Manufacturers
Taiwan’s largest notebook manufacturer selects PRISM wireless technology
TAIPEI, TAIWAN and IRVINE, CA, August 28, 2001 Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ: ISIL), the worlds leading developer of silicon technology for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), and Quanta Computer Inc., (TSE:2382), Taiwans largest manufacturer of notebook computers, today announced the signing of a strategic alliance that will allow Quanta to develop wirelessly enabled notebook computers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and other small handheld computing devices.
The largest notebook manufacturer in Taiwan, Quanta selected Intersil as its premier WLAN solution supplier and will incorporate Intersils PRISM® 2.5 WLAN chip set in its next generation notebook computers. The PRISM® 2.5 wireless networking chip set is optimized for smaller form factors and embedded WLAN applications such as mini-PCI cards and single-sided PCMCIA cards. The significant board space reduction achieved by PRISM® 2.5 also opens the door for Quanta to incorporate dual-mode networking capabilities such as the addition of Bluetooth, v.90 modems or Ethernet chipsets on the same embedded WLAN card.
"This alliance between Intersil and Quanta is an important catalyst in the use of embedded wireless technology for the development of wirelessly enabled notebooks and PDAs," said Greg Williams, president and CEO of Intersil. "Consumers will definitely benefit from the union of Intersils world class wireless chipsets, reference designs and software and Quantas expertise and innovation in the manufacture of notebook computers and PDAs."
"Quanta selected Intersil as our strategic wireless solution supplier because its PRISM® technology provides low-cost, high performance Wi-Fi (802.11b) wireless networking solutions targeting consumer applications," said Michael Chen, Ph.D., senior vice president of Quanta. "Intersils PRISM® wireless networking technology will enable Quanta to manufacture next generation PCs and other wireless devices with embedded WLAN applications."
The Global Wireless Market Embraces PRISM® WLAN Technology
"Intersil is the number one manufacturer of wireless LAN chipsets and has been a driving force behind the success of WLANs," said a May 2001 WLAN report from Cahners In-Stat Group. Since introducing the PRISM® WLAN chip set in 1996, over 50 of the industry-leading companies including Actiontec, Alcatel, Cisco, Compaq, 3Com, Dell, D-Link, IBM, Legend, Linksys, Nokia, Nortel, Panasonic, Quanta, Samsung, Scientific-Atlanta, Sharp, Siemens, SOHOware, Sony, SpectraLink, Symbol and Zoom have incorporated PRISM® chips in more than 100 product designs. PRISM® technology is designed to comply with the IEEEs 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.
About Quanta
Quanta is the largest notebook PC manufacturer in Taiwan and has had the top notebook sales in Taiwan for three consecutive years. With a powerful R&D team and flexible operation strategies, Quanta introduces excellent products with advanced technology and creates high product added-value at a low cost. In 2000, Quanta accounted for 19.7 percent of notebook sales in Taiwan and 10.3 percent of the global notebook market. This makes Quanta one of the most important notebook PC manufacturers in the world. With focus on high quality and leadership in high-tech market trends, Quanta engages in long-term cooperation with world leading brands.
About Intersil
About Intersil
Intersil is a leading communications company and supplier of semiconductors, reference designs and software for wireless networking and analog markets. Intersil applies analog, mixed-signal and radio frequency (RF) expertise to products that: enable wireless and voice access to broadband media; provide reliable power management in all PCs, file servers and portable information appliances; and perform analog and digital signal conversion for cellular and Internet infrastructure. For more information about Intersil, visit the company's Internet homepage at www.intersil.
This press release contains information relating to certain projections and business trends concerning the WLAN market that are forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements are based upon management’s current expectations, estimates, beliefs, assumptions, and projections about our business and 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 Corporation ("Intersil") and Intersil is not responsible for the forward-looking statements and projections of others. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and 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 any forward-looking statements as a result of various risk factors. Important risk factors that may cause such material differences for Intersil in connection with WLAN market include, but are not limited to: the rate at which consumers adopt small handheld Internet appliances and portable computing devices in enterprise and in homes; the rate at which our present and future customers and end-users adopt Intersil’s wireless technologies and products, including our embedded LAN applications; 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; 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 Web site 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. PRISM is a registered trademark of Intersil Americas Inc. All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
