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Intersil Unveils Next Generation PRISM GT Chip Set with Enhanced WPA Security, PRISM Nitro Technology, Best-in-Class Power Consumption and Lower Total Cost

-- PRISM GT™ chip set outclasses the competition with up to 75% better power management~-- PRISM Nitro™ technology dramatically increases 802.11g throughput by up to 50%~-- PRISM GT provides the WLAN industry's most comprehensive WPA security solution for 802.11 products

MILPITAS, CA, May 13, 2003 – Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ: ISIL), a world leader in the design and manufacture of high performance analog and wireless networking solutions, announced today it is shipping its second generation PRISM GT, 802.11g draft-compliant, chip set to leading customers, ODMs and OEMs. Designed to support revision 8.1 of the 802.11g draft standard for Wireless Local Area Networking (WLAN) products operating in the 2.4 GHz band, the new and improved PRISM GT solution incorporates Intersil’s SingleSource™ Driver Suite with PRISM Nitro technology. PRISM Nitro provides up to a 3x improvement in performance for 802.11g clients operating in mixed-mode wireless networks and up to 50% greater throughput performance in 802.11g only networks. Improved integration and a reduction in total bill of materials have resulted in a lower solution cost for PRISM GT.

The PRISM GT chip set achieves the lowest standby current, receive current, and average idle current of any 802.11g solution on the market today. Testing of 802.11g products available in retail today found that PRISM GT’s Power Save Mode achieved both the lowest average idle and active currents — beating the competition by up to 75%. PRISM GT’s receive mode current was also up to 35% lower than competitive solutions. Both of these factors enable PRISM GT to consume lower power than competitive solutions over a wide range of user activity.

“We have taken our GT chipset to the next level by developing a new generation radio which is enabling world class power, performance, software, security and cost. We are through all of the certifications and are in full production with a high volume foundry. Our Singlesource driver has enabled a seamless software transition for our ODM and OEM partners,” said Larry Ciaccia, vice president and general manager for Intersil’s Wireless Networking Products Group. “Intersil is executing on a comprehensive roadmap which entails multiple generations of solutions allowing us, as well as our partners, to maintain leadership in this fast moving market.”

PRISM Nitro technology is fully IEEE 802.11g (draft standard 8.1) compliant and uses packet bursting and enhanced protection mechanisms to significantly increase PRISM GT’s pure (802.11g) and mixed-mode (802.11b and 802.11g) performance. PRISM GT enables WLAN uses to move to higher data rates while remaining fully standards compliant PRISM Nitro technology ensures full backwards compatibility and interoperability with other standards-compliant brands.

“PRISM GT is enabling a new generation of high-data-rate platforms for operation in the 2.4 GHz spectrum that deliver a five-fold increase in throughput over currently marketed 802.11b,” added Ciaccia. “The addition of our new power management solution, PRISM Nitro technology and our WPA security solution make PRISM GT an ideal solution for high-bandwidth enterprise applications, such as wireless video conferencing and large file transfers, as well as advanced home networking applications such as multi-channel CD-quality audio and DVD-quality video streaming.” About Intersil
Intersil Corporation is a global semiconductor leader in the design and manufacture of high performance analog and wireless networking solutions. The acquisition of Elantec Semiconductor, Inc., expanded Intersil’s product portfolios to address four fast growing markets – flat panel displays, optical storage (CD and DVD recordable), power management and wireless networking. Intersil brings added customer value in providing complete silicon, software and reference design solutions to new products that enhance the computing experience for people wherever they live, work or travel. For more information about Intersil or to find out how to become a member of our winning team, visit the company's web site and career page at: www.intersil.com

This release may include "forward looking statements" that are subject to risks and uncertainties. For information identifying economic, political, climatic, currency, regulatory, technological, competitive and some other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward looking statements, see Intersil’s Safe Harbor Forward Looking Statement disclaimer found at http://www.intersil.com/legal.asp, as well as Intersil’s SEC filings as updated from time to time, found at http://www.sec.gov. PRISM GT, PRISM Nitro and SingleSource are trademarks of Intersil Americas Inc.
All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.