News & Events
Intersil’s PRISM 2.5 Chip Set Enables Smaller Form Factor WLAN Solutions

— Innovative four-chip solution includes the world’s first integrated BBP/MAC
— Small board size enables design of dual-mode networking capabilities on same WLAN card

IRVINE, CA., February 8, 2001 — Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ: ISIL), the world’s leading developer of silicon technology for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), announced today that PRISM/work, Intersil’s enterprise product line, began volume shipments of PRISM^® 2.5, its wireless networking chip set optimized for smaller form factors and embedded WLAN applications such as mini-PCI cards and single-sided PCMCIA cards.

The PRISM 2.5 solution features the world’s first single-chip Baseband Processor (BBP) and Medium Access Controller (MAC) that integrates digital functions normally done by two ICs. The integrated BBP/MAC includes a PCMCIA and USB interface that will allow Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) to easily add a USB interface into next-generation IEEE 802.11b wireless networking products for the home and office. A BBP/MAC with mini-PCI interface for manufacturing electronic devices requiring embedded applications is also available.

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.

The use of "embedded" chip technology is expected to spark the addition of wireless LAN capability into ever-smaller computing devices, thanks to smaller form factors such as mini-PCI, Compact Flash^® and USB. Most WLAN cards on the market today are relatively large (approximately 2 x 5 inches) PCMCIA cards inserted into the PCMCIA slot in laptops and other mobile computing products.

Embedded designs would be in mini-PCI, USB or Compact Flash that are much smaller and are typically installed directly on the device motherboard during product assembly. This allows reduction of overall system size, requires no user installation, and is usually less prone to problems.

"PRISM 2.5 underscores Intersil’s commitment to driving the widespread deployment of wireless networking capability in ever-smaller computing devices," said Larry Ciaccia, vice president and general manager of PRISM Wireless Products at Intersil. "We’re confident that our PRISM 2.5 chip set and its complete suite of supporting software and firmware will extend our leadership position into the new embedded designs that are redefining this market."

The PRISM 2.5 solution incorporates sophisticated state-of-the-art silicon germanium (SiGe) and sub-micron CMOS technology to create highly-integrated, feature-rich WLAN silicon solutions for products operating in the 2.4 GHz Industrial Scientific and Medical (ISM) band at the IEEE 802.11b-compliant high-data-rate speed of 11 Megabits-per-second (Mbps). The significant board space reduction achieved by PRISM 2.5 also opens the door for designers to incorporate dual-mode networking capabilities — such as the addition of Bluetooth, v.90 modems or Ethernet chipsets — on the same embedded WLAN card.

Technical Features
PRISM 2.5 consists of only four ICs. Individual ICs include the ISL3984 Power Amplifier and Detector, the ISL3685 RF/IF Converter, the HFA3783 I/Q Modulator/Demodulator and Synthesizer, and the world’s first single-chip integrated Baseband Processor/Medium Access Controller (BBP/MAC), the ISL3873.

The ISL3984 is a 2.4GHz monolithic Power Amplifier and Detector designed to maximize battery life while yielding all the power necessary for high performance, 802.11b-compliant, 11 Mbps wireless networking systems while operating in a high-density enterprise environment. The use of advanced MLF packaging and sophisticated SiGe technology has made it a smaller and more power efficient Power Amplifier and Detector.

PRISM 2.5 utilizes the existing I/Q modem from the PRISM II chip set, the HFA3783, which features all the necessary blocks for quadrature modulations and demodulation of "I" and "Q" baseband signals. With the HFA3783, the receive and transmit IF paths share a common differential matching network so that only a single IF filter is required for half duplex transceivers.

The ISL3685 is a small, highly integrated SiGe half duplex RF/IF Converter and Synthesizer. The receiver chain features a gain selectable, low noise amplifier (LNA) followed by a down-converter mixer. The transmit chain’s configuration includes an up-converter mixer and a high performance pre-amplifier. The ISL3685 is housed in a MLFP package that saves board space and reduces costs.

The ISL3873 is the world’s first single-chip BBP/MAC supporting wireless Ethernet speeds for use in IEEE 802.11b standard-based systems. The integration of the BBP and MAC conserves significant board real estate, eliminating large numbers of I/O pins and reducing board complexity, size and manufacturing costs. Providing improved multipath performance, the ISL3873 combines a PRISM Baseband Processor with a CHOICE-based MAC. The ISL3873 features a PCMCIA and USB interface for customers deploying easy-to-use, plug-and-play solutions.

For embedded WLAN applications, Intersil offers the ISL3874 BBP/MAC with an integrated mini-PCI interface.

Price and Availability
The PRISM 2.5 chip set using the ISL 3873 is available in 100K quantities for $29.98. The cost for the chip set with the ISL3874 is $31.98 in 100K quantities. The sets include the ISL3984 Power Amplifier/Detector, the ISL3685 RF-to-IF Converter/Synthesizer, the HFA3783 I/Q Modulator/Demodulator and Synthesizer and the integrated BBP/MAC.

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, Linksys, Nokia, Nortel, Samsung, Scientific-Atlanta, Siemens, SOHOware, Sony, SpectraLink, Symbol Technologies, 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 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 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 consumers adopt small handheld Internet appliances, the rate at which our present and future customers and end-users adopt Intersil’s wireless technologies and 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; 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 of Intersil Americas Inc.

PRISM/work and PRISM/home are trademarks of Intersil Americas Inc.

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

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