News & Events
Intersil’s PRISM Powers New Wireless PCI Card

-- Low-profile PCI adapter card delivers “off-the-shelf” wireless connectivity to new IBM Netvista PCs

IRVINE, CA, December 18, 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 utilizing Intersil’s PRISM® 2.5 WLAN chip set to deliver embedded Wi-Fi (802.11b) wireless connectivity in its new NetVista® PCs.

Intersil’s work with IBM on a new low profile High Rate PCI adapter card for NetVista PCs advances the deployment of Wi-Fi technology in homes, offices and public spaces. Intersil’s PRISM technology is also incorporated into IBM’s T23 ThinkPad notebooks along with a new High Rate WLAN Gateway that delivers 11 megabit-per-second (Mbps) wireless home networking from a single broadband cable or DSL connection.

The IBM Wi-Fi (802.11b) PCI Wireless Adapter with low profile capability offers a solution for NetVista customers who require wireless LAN capability in a desktop PC environment. The low profile PCI adapter card enables the system to be added wirelessly to an existing LAN when used with a compatible wireless access point or residential gateway device. This high-speed, secure (128-bit encrypted) product allows NetVista customers to easily deploy new network infrastructures without the need to route wired LAN cables for network connectivity. For additional security, the adapter supports 802.1x authentication control.

“The significant board space reduction achieved by our PRISM 2.5 chip set enabled IBM to incorporate Wi-Fi networking capability into a very sleek, low profile form factor,” said Larry Ciaccia, vice president and general manager of Intersil’s Wireless Networking Business. “We’ve already seen the move to embedded WLAN in notebooks and this new platform from IBM will allow desktops to have the same embedded wireless connectivity.”

To achieve the PCI’s card’s sleek form factor, IBM turned to Intersil and its PRISM 2.5 WLAN chip set, the world’s most highly integrated, complete solution for designing in embedded Wi-Fi connectivity in PCs and notebook computers. 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 OEMs to easily add a USB interface into next-generation Wi-Fi 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 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 global leader in designing innovative wireless networking and high performance analog solutions that enable wireless access to video, data and voice in homes, offices and public places. Creating advanced power management products, Intersil provides reliable solutions for file servers, portable information appliances and over half of all computer microprocessors manufactured today. With a rich high performance analog and mixed signal portfolio, Intersil brings added value in providing complete silicon, software and reference design solutions to new products that bring portable connectivity to people wherever they live, work or travel. Headquartered in Irvine, California, Intersil has offices in cities throughout the US, Europe and Asia. 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 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 in enterprise and in homes; the rate at which our present and future customers and end-users adopt Intersil’s wireless technologies and products, including our embedded LAN applications; 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 and quality 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; as well as other risk factors. Intersil’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, 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) 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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IBM and NetVista are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States and other countries.