News & Events
Intersil’s PRISM WLAN Solution Powers New Compaq "MultiPort" Technology

— Multiport enables IEEE 802.11b wireless connectivity to mobile PC users
—New module provides a high-speed, reliable, flexible and secure WLAN connection

IRVINE, CA, May 23, 2001 – Intersil (NASDAQ: ISIL), the world’s leading developer of silicon technology for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) today announced that Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ) is using Intersil’s PRISM® technology in its new IEEE 802.11b-based WLAN MultiPort module. MultiPort is a modular solution that provides Compaq commercial notebook PC users "all the time, everywhere" wireless access to their business information.

Intersil was an integral member of the Compaq development team that developed the world’s first single-sided WLAN adapter card with USB interface. This unique WLAN card was specifically designed to fit into a MultiPort bay on Compaq notebooks and is the result of collaboration between Intersil, Intel, Celestica and Compaq. This multi-company development team brought industry-leading silicon, hardware, board design and software expertise to the project.

"Intersil is thrilled that our PRISM technology is a part of Compaq’s new approach of adding built-in wireless capability to notebooks," said Larry Ciaccia, vice president and general manager of Intersil’s PRISM Wireless Products business. "The unique form factor of MultiPort was made possible by our highly-integrated PRISM 2.5, which delivers wireless LAN capability on a single-sided card."

The MultiPort interface is an embedded, fully compliant plug-and-play USB port located in the back of a notebook display. Initially, 802.11b and Bluetooth™ modules will be available and Compaq plans to introduce other modules so the MultiPort can grow and adapt to meet both current and future wireless standards. Users can hot swap between any wireless or non-wireless module.

The MultiPort module combines both the antenna and the radio transceiver onto a single card that fits into the notebook’s panel. Omni-directional signal reception provides maximum signal strength and receive sensitivity while keeping PC Card and Mini-PCI slots free so that MultiPort users do not have to trade-off other functionality to get a wireless-enabled notebook. Combining the radio transceiver and antenna solves many of the RF (Radio Frequency) integration issues facing the notebook industry, and eliminates the need for RF connectors and coaxial cabling which can induce noise and cause signal loss.

"The MultiPort module will support advanced roaming capabilities, allowing mobile workers to freely move throughout a building while maintaining a consistent network or Internet connection through a series of access points," said Ken Willett, director, Desktop and Portable Business, Compaq Computer Corporation. "Intersil’s PRISM WLAN technology enables MultiPort to transfer data at speeds up to 11 megabits per second (Mbps). Additionally, MultiPort will also provide ample bandwidth for video streaming, file transfers, voice over IP (Internet Protocol) or other demanding applications used in e-business transactions."

PRISM is the most highly integrated WLAN chip set on the market today, delivering wireless Ethernet networking with compliance to the 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.

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 Actiontec, Alcatel, Cisco, Compaq, 3Com, Dell, D-Link, Linksys, Nokia, Nortel, Samsung, Scientific-Atlanta, Siemens, SOHOware, Sony, SpectraLink, Symbol, and Zoom.

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, file 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 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 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 WLAN market include, but are not limited to: 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; 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 Web site 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 Americas Inc.

Wi-Fi is a trademark of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance.

All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.