News & Events
Intersil's PRISM 2.5 Wireless LAN Chip Set Provides Embedded Connectivity for Sharp's New Actius Ultra-Light Notebooks

-- Embedded design provides WLAN connectivity while keeping the PCMCIA slot available for other uses

IRVINE, CA, July 23, 2002 – Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ: ISIL), a world leader in the design and manufacture of high performance analog and wireless networking solutions, today announced that Sharp Corporation, a leading worldwide provider of consumer electronics, computing and imaging solutions, has chosen Intersil’s PRISM® 2.5 Wireless Local Area Networking (WLAN) chip set and mini-PCI reference design to provide IEEE 802.11b (Wi-Fi) connectivity for their new Actius™ MV10W and UM30W ultra-light notebook PCs.

“Our PRISM 2.5 chip set and mini-PCI reference design boasts a very small footprint and low power appetite making it an ideal choice for manufacturers desiring to add embedded WLAN capability to their portable products,” said Larry Ciaccia, vice president and general manager of Intersil’s Wireless Networking Product Group. “Sharp’s new Actius ultra-mobile notebooks are excellent examples of the easy integration of Intersil’s PRISM 2.5 wireless LAN technology and of Sharp’s focus on integrating the latest technologies into its innovative products.”

"We are excited about the positive market reaction to our new ultra-light Actius notebook PCs. Mobility is the primary design objective of these innovative ultra-thin, ultra-light notebooks, and integrated Wi-Fi wireless connectivity is a key enabler of on-the-go connectivity and productivity for our highly mobile customers," said Greg Nakagawa, senior vice president and general manager of Sharp Systems of America. "The proven PRISM 2.5 reference design made it easy to add embedded IEEE 802.11b wireless connectivity and Intersil provided full support for this integration effort."

Sharp Actius MV10W Ultralight Notebook
The Actius MV10W provides powerful computing performance plus audio-video entertainment in a slim design. With its Mobile Intel Pentium III-M 1-GHz processor, 256 MB of RAM (user expandable up to 768 MB), 30-GB hard drive and wireless LAN connectivity, the Actius MV10W is ready for serious mobile productivity. Measuring only about one inch thick, it is one of the thinnest notebooks in its class. Despite its small size, it features built-in IEEE 802.11b wireless LAN technology and an integrated CD-R/RW & DVD combo drive to handle all media.

Sharp Actius UM30W Ultralight Notebook
Designed for ultra-mobile professionals and weighing in at about three pounds, the Actius UM30W provides powerful computing performance without the weight. With its Mobile Intel Pentium III-M 866 MHz processor, 256 MB of RAM (user expandable up to 512 MB), 40-GB hard drive and IEEE 802.11b wireless LAN connectivity, the Actius UM30W offers low weight and high productivity.
Learn more about Sharp Actius notebook PCs at: www.sharpsystems.com

PRISM 2.5 WLAN Reference Design
This PRISM 2.5 Reference Design provides all of the technical information necessary for the manufacture of a complete WLAN adaptor in a small form factor that measures approximately 2-1/3 x 1-1/2 inches. Such cards are ideal for embedded WLAN applications. In addition, many companies are adopting mini-PCI and USB interfaces for embedded cards. The PRISM 2.5 chip set’s ISL3873 combined Baseband Processor and Medium Access Controller (BBP/MAC) allows original equipment manufacturers to easily develop wireless LAN-capable products that connect to the host device using a mini-PCI or USB connection. This solution delivers full 11 megabit-per-second (Mbps) data rates and fully complies with the IEEE 802.11b standard, making it eligible for Wi-Fi certification.

Intersil + Elantec Means More for Our Customers
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 press release contains 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 Intersil Corporation’s (“Intersil”) management’s current expectations, estimates, beliefs, assumptions, and projections about Intersil’s business and industry. Words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “potential,” “continue,” and variations of these words (or negatives 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. 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’s WLAN product group include, but are not limited to: the slowdown in the technology sector generally and the semiconductor industry specifically; the rate at which consumers adopt small handheld Internet appliances and portable computing devices in enterprises and in homes; the rate at which consumers purchase small handheld Internet appliances, portable computing devices, and notebook computers with embedded wireless; the rate at which our present and future customers and end-users adopt Intersil’s wireless access, technologies; the timing, rescheduling or cancellation of significant customer orders; the ability of our customers to manage inventory; 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 and quality of our foundry capacity and raw materials; availability, pricing, and quality of third party foundry and assembly and test capacity and raw materials; fluctuations in the manufacturing yields of our third party foundries and assembly and test facilities, and other problems or delays in the fabrication, assembly, testing or delivery of our products; the risks of producing products with new suppliers and at new fabrication and assembly and test facilities; problems or delays that we may face in shifting our products to smaller geometry process technologies; the effectiveness of Intersil’s expense and product cost control and reduction efforts; the risks inherent in acquisitions, including the acquisition of Elantec Semiconductor, Inc. (including integration issues; costs and unanticipated expenditures; changing relationships with customers, suppliers, and strategic partners; potential contractual, employment, and intellectual property issues; risks of not securing regulatory approvals; accounting treatment and charges; and the risks that the acquisition cannot be completed successfully, or that the anticipated benefits of the acquisition are not realized); intellectual property disputes, customer indemnification claims, and other litigation risks; Intersil’s ability to develop, market, and transition to volume production new products and technologies in a timely manner; the quality of Intersil’s products and any repair or replacement costs; the risks and uncertainties associated with Intersil’s global operations, particularly in light of the war on terrorism; the effects of natural disasters, international conflicts and other events beyond our control; the level of orders received and the ability to fill those orders in a given fiscal quarter; and other factors. Intersil’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other Intersil filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) (which you may obtain for free at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov) discuss some of the important risk factors that may affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this communication and Intersil undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements. PRISM is a registered trademark of Intersil Americas Inc.
Actius is a trademark of Sharp Electronics Corporation.
All other product names and trademarks are the property of their respective holders.