News & Events
Intersil's PRISM Chip Set Drives New IBM High Rate Wireless LAN Gateway

-- Wireless Gateway serves as Wi-Fi networking hub for small businesses and homes

IRVINE, CA, October 29, 2001 – Intersil (NASDAQ: ISIL), the world's leading developer of silicon technology for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) today announced that IBM® (NYSE: IBM) is using Intersil's PRISM® chip set to power its new High Rate Wireless LAN Gateway that enables the sharing of a single cable or Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) account amongst Wi-Fi-enabled clients in the network.

The IBM High Rate Wireless LAN Gateway, featuring Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b) technology, is an excellent platform for both home and small business users who want to share a single Internet connection without having to run any new wires. For corporate users, the Model 22P6401 IBM Wireless LAN Gateway includes an integrated access point that is Wi-Fi certified, allowing it to be used in the home with the same 802.11b PC Card used at work. This enables work-at-home network access with true seamless mobility. Additionally, the built-in firewall has features such as Statefull Packet Inspection for security from hackers.

"The new IBM High Rate Wireless LAN Gateway is specifically designed to serve as the central point of entry and wireless distribution center for broadband content throughout the home or small office," said Larry Ciaccia, vice president and general manager of Intersil's Wireless Networking Business. "Intersil's PRISM wireless networking chip set is optimized for smaller form factors and embedded WLAN applications that enables our customer partners such as IBM to quickly develop and deploy innovative products aimed at home and business users."

Features and Benefits
The IBM High Rate Wireless LAN Gateway offers the following features and benefits:
- Integrated IEEE 802.11b access point – Wi-Fi certified for interoperability compliance
- Radio transmissions secured using 128-bit WEP encryption
- Four-port 10/100 Ethernet switch provides high-performance wired LAN
- Network Address Translation provides Internet sharing capability
- Firewall for security from hackers
- RJ-45 WAN connection for any Ethernet-connected cable or DSL modem
- Simple browser-based setup
- Front panel indicators provide status of LAN, wireless and WAN connectivity

Intersil's PRISM 2.5 wireless networking chip set is optimized for smaller form factors and embedded WLAN applications such as mini-PCI, USB or Compact Flash that are much smaller and are typically installed directly into the system during product assembly. PRISM 2.5 delivers wireless Ethernet networking with compliance to the Wi-Fi (IEEE's 802.11b) global standard. Optimized for high data rate (11 Mbps) performance, PRISM- based systems are feature-rich and provide fast, reliable performance in all types of networking environments. Advanced design and process technologies reduce power consumption, design complexity and total system cost. 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 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, industry-leading companies including Actiontec, Alcatel, ASUS, Casio, Cisco, Compaq, 3Com, Dell, D-Link, GemTek, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Intel, Legend, Linksys, Nokia, Nortel, Panasonic, Quanta, Samsung, Sharp, Siemens, SOHOware, Sony, SpectraLink, Symbol, Z-Com and Zoom have incorporated PRISM chips in WLAN product designs. 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. 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.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 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 recent economic slowdown in the technology sector and the semiconductor industry; the rate at which consumers adopt small handheld Internet appliances and portable computing devices; the rate at which our present and future customers and end-users adopt Intersil's wireless technologies and products, including our embedded LAN applications 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; the effectiveness of Intersil's expense and product cost control and reduction efforts; 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; risks inherent in acquisitions and divestitures, such as the anticipated benefits not being realized, integration issues, unanticipated costs, changing relationships with customers and suppliers, accounting treatment and charges; the success of our recently public offering of securities, as well as other risk factors. Intersil's Annual Report on Form 10-K, recent and forthcoming Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Registration Statement of Form S-3, and other Intersil filings with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission ("SEC") (which you may obtain for free at the SEC's Web site www.sec.gov 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 press release and Intersil undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements. PRISM is a registered trademark of Intersil Americas Inc.
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