News & Events
Intersil’s PRISM Powers New Linksys® Wireless Networking Products
PRISM/home™ provides design solutions for Linksys Instant Wireless™ Access Point and PC Card
IRVINE, CA, January 4, 2001 — Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ: ISIL), the world’s leading developer of silicon technology for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), announced today that Linksys, a leading developer of broadband network solutions for the home and office, is using the PRISM® II chip set in its new Instant Wireless Network Access Point and PC card.
"The Linksys Instant Wireless network products are the latest in a growing number of PRISM-based wireless LAN solutions aimed at today’s home and business user," said Larry Ciaccia, vice president and general manager of PRISM Wireless Products at Intersil. "This is further evidence of the market adoption of 802.11b WLAN technology in the home networking market and Linksys is well positioned to capitalize on this market opportunity."
The Instant Wireless Access Point (Model # WAP11) is a wireless hub capable of serving multiple clients and features an 11 megabits-per-second (Mbps) data rate with user-friendly plug-and-play operation for easy installation. The dipole antennas provide an extensive range of operation of up to 164 feet indoors and 820 feet outdoors at the 11 Mbps range. Range can be extended up to 492 feet indoors and 1,640 feet outdoors utilizing 1 Mpbs range. The Access Point also features easy-to-use Windows-based diagnostic tools and advanced authentication that provide a high level of security. It is equipped with a 10/100 port for connection to an Ethernet network or broadband connection.
The Instant Wireless Network PC Card (Model # WPC1) is designed for notebook PCs and plugs into a Type II or Type III PCMCIA slot and allows users to take advantage of the notebook computer’s portability while providing wireless access to network resources. The PC Card is compatible with Windows 95, 98, 2000, NT and Millennium operating systems.
"Our new Instant Wireless Access Point and PC Card further illustrates our commitment to provide easy to use and affordable wireless networking products to our home, small/medium and corporate workgroup customers," said Victor Tsao, Linksys president and CEO. "Utilizing the PRISM II chip set allows us to further develop wireless networking solutions so that they are more reliable, dependable and compatible with other LAN hardware and software. Our strength in retail and e-commerce will allow us to quickly deploy wireless solutions for the high demand."
PRISM/home, Intersil’s distinct brand for home and small business wireless networking products, is designing low-cost, high performance wireless networking solutions for the home and small business markets. The PRISM/home product line includes the PRISM II portfolio that provides reference designs, evaluation kits, firmware and software in addition to the highly integrated silicon chip set. PRISM II delivers an 11 Mbps data rate and is fully compliant with the IEEE 802.11b standard. The PRISM II reference design is Wi-Fi™ certified by the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA), thus ensuring multi-vendor interoperability.
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, Nokia, Nortel, Samsung, Siemens, Scientific-Atlanta, SOHOware, Sony, SpectraLink, Symbol, and Zoom.
About The Linksys Group, Inc.
Linksys, an award-winning leader in the development of networking and broadband networking solutions for the home, Small Office/Home Office, Small/Medium Business, and enterprise environments, has been the number-one manufacturer of networking hardware in the retail channel for nearly four years — currently owning 30 percent of the market. Through this position, Linksys has become the fastest growing networking hardware manufacturer in the distribution channel and the lead seller of networking hardware online through E-tailers. Linksys products emphasize speed, affordability, reliability, ease of installation and widespread compatibility and are sold through leading master distributors, computer resellers, direct response and E-commerce and retail stores worldwide. For more information, visit the Linksys Web site at www.linksys.com, email at sales@linksys.com or call toll-free 1-800-LINKSYS (546-5797).
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 statements relating to certain projections and business trends concerning the home and small office WLAN markets 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 home and small office WLAN markets 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 in the home and small office; 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 Corporation.
Linksys is a registered trademark and Instant Wireless is a trademark of The Linksys Group. Inc.
Wi-Fi is a trademark of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance.
All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
