News & Events
Intersil’s PRISM II Chip Set On Board Compaq’s New High-Speed Wireless LAN System

PALM BAY, FL – March 10, 2000 – Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ: ISIL), the world’s leading developer of silicon technology for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), announced that its PRISM II WLAN chip set has been selected by Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ) for use in a series of 11 megabit-per-second wireless networking products.

Compaq’s WL Series delivers fast, wireless connections to the enterprise LAN for mobile workers, allowing them to stay connected while roaming to meetings or other office locations. The system consists of an 11 Mbps PC Card and PCI Card for wirelessly enabling portable and desktop PCs, as well as 11 Mbps hardware and software Access Points, which act as wireless "gateways" to a wired computer network.

"Being able to order wireless capabilities along with your PCs, plus having the support of an industry-leading computer company behind the purchase will help stimulate IT managers, small business owners, and even multi-PC households to take advantage of wireless networking," said Larry Ciaccia, vice president and general manager of Intersil’s PRISM Wireless Products business. "It also validates the move toward ubiquitous, 802.11 standard-based wireless networking beyond the traditional enterprise segment. We look forward to continued work with Compaq to deliver the most advanced, full-featured and globally-viable systems to the enterprise, small office, and consumer markets."

PRISM II is the most highly integrated, highest performing WLAN chip set on the market today, delivering wired Ethernet-equivalent data rates and compliance to the IEEE’s 802.11b global standard. Optimized for high data rate (11 Mbps) wireless networking, PRISM II-based systems are feature-rich and provide better, more reliable performance in all types of networking environments. Advanced design and silicon germanium (SiGe) process technologies reduce power consumption, design complexity and total system cost.

"The shipment of our WL Series reinforces our commitment to take the lead in generating quality wireless networking products for business," said Jerry Meerkatz, Vice President and General Manager of Internet Products and Services. "The advanced design of Intersil’s PRISM II chip set enables us to develop high performance networking products that deliver on these market needs at competitive pricing. We are proud to be the first computer company to ship PRISM II-based 11 Mbps wireless LAN products."

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. 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 will ensure compatibility between various 802.11-based systems. Intersil has a continuing program to rapidly introduce better performing, more highly integrated generations of PRISM chip sets and supporting design tools. PRISM chips are used in WLAN systems from industry-leading companies including Nokia, Siemens, Compaq, 3Com, Nortel, Samsung, Dell, Zoom, Cisco/Aironet, and SpectraLink.

About Intersil
Intersil Corporation uses semiconductor expertise to enable highly integrated voice, data and video communications. Intersil's integrated communications portfolio includes PRISM® Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) chip sets that enable mobile connectivity products for the home and office; analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits for broadband access to wireless and wired Wide Area Networks (WANs); and power management products that enable 24x7 reliability in network servers, next generation PCs and information appliances. For more information about Intersil, visit the company's Internet homepage at www.intersil.com.

This press release contains information relating to forecasted results of Intersil, including certain projections and business trends, that are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to global and market conditions as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Intersil's filings with the Securities Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and Intersil undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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PRISM is a registered trademark and "Antenna-to-Computer" is a trademark of Intersil Corporation.