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Intersil’s Announces “World’s First” Single-Chip Family of WLAN Integrated Medium Access Controllers and Baseband Processors

— ISL3873 features Universal Serial Bus (USB) and PCMCIA host interfaces —ISL3874 provides mini-PCI interface for embedded applications

IRVINE, CA, April 11, 2001 – Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ: ISIL), the world’s leading developer of silicon technology for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), today announced the world’s first single-chip family of integrated Baseband Processors (BBP) and Medium Access Controllers (MAC) are in full production. The BBP/MACs are optimized for smaller form factors and embedded 802.11b, Wi-Fi certified WLAN applications such as mini-PCI, Compact Flash and USB cards and single-sided PCMCIA cards.

Intersil’s new BBP/MACs integrate mixed signal and digital functions previously done by two ICs. The integration of the BBP and MAC onto a single integrated circuit saves significant board space, eliminates a large number of I/O pins and reduces board complexity, size and manufacturing costs. Improvements made in the architecture have enabled replacement of an expensive, large footprint flash memory with an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-only Memory (E2PROM) that results in a lower Bill of Materials costs. The E2PROM’s small size saves significant board space enabling small form factor embedded USB and mini-PCI WLAN cards.

"Our new family of integrated BBP/MACs signals Intersil’s commitment to continually develop new generations of PRISM solutions for the 2.4GHz band that provide the most advanced and cost effective solutions for WLAN applications," said Larry Ciaccia, vice president and general manager of PRISM Wireless Products at Intersil. "The small form factor and level of integration of the ISL3873 and ISL3874 are enabling unique applications of 802.11b WLAN and represent the core for future generations of high performance and highly integrated PRISM BBP/MACs."

For PCMCIA and USB applications, the ISL3873 BBP/MAC integrates the high performance of the HFA3863 Baseband Processor with the reliability of the HFA3842 CHOICE-based MAC. This results in improved multipath performance and supports wireless Ethernet speeds of 11 megabits-per-second for use in IEEE 802.11b-based systems. The ISL3873 features firmware configurable PCMCIA and USB interfaces that will allow original equipment manufacturers (OEM) to easily add a USB interface into both stand-alone and embedded next-generation IEEE 802.11b wireless networking products for the home and office. For embedded mini-PCI WLAN applications, Intersil offers the ISL3874 BBP/MAC. The integrated mini-PCI interface eliminates the need for external PCMCIA to mini-PCI bridge chip.

Advanced chip technology is expected to spark the addition of embedded wireless LAN capability into ever-smaller computing devices. Embedded designs such as mini-PCI, USB or Compact Flash® are much smaller and typically installed within a product during assembly. This allows reduction of overall system size, and requires no user installation.

This new BBP/MAC family is the heart of PRISM 2.5, Intersil’s newest four-chip WLAN solution. The PRISM 2.5 solution includes integrated circuits (ICs), software, firmware and a companion voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) to give systems manufacturers a highly integrated, full-featured solution for designing 802.11b-compliant wireless networking capability into small, handheld computing devices such as laptop PCs, Personal Digital Assistants and next generation "Web Pad" Internet appliance devices. PRISM 2.5-based products will provide users with wireless access to networks and the Internet for fast and efficient transmission of data, video and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services.

Pricing and Availability

The ISL3873 and ISL3874 are available in thin plastic BGA packages in both Tray or Tape and Reel. The new BBP/MACs are in full production and priced at $15.88 in 500K quantities. For further information, including a complete datasheet, visit Intersil’s PRISM homepage at www.intersil.com/prism

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 chipsets holding the majority of market share." PRISM technology is designed to comply with the IEEE’s 802.11b 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 802.11b-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, Linksys, Nokia, Nortel, Samsung, Scientific-Atlanta, Siemens, SOHOware, Sony, SpectraLink, Symbol and Zoom.

About Intersil

Intersil is a leading supplier of semiconductors, reference designs and software for wireless access and communications analog 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 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 Holding 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 our present and future customers and end-users adopt Intersil’s wireless technologies and products including embedded LAN applications; the rate at which consumers adopt portable computing devices; 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 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/work and PRISM/home are trademarks of Intersil Americas Inc.

Wi-Fi is a trademark of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance.

All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.