Agere Systems Announces Lead-Free RF Plastic Transistor Products
ALLENTOWN, Pa. -March 26, 2004 /The Wi-Fi Technology Forum/- Agere Systems (NYSE: AGR.A, AGR.B), the world leader in sales of wireless infrastructure semiconductors*, announced five high-performance radio frequency (RF) overmolded plastic packaged transistor products that will reduce the costs of RF transistor packaging up to 25 percent. Agere's solutions will lower the overall costs and accelerate deployment of a vast array of wireless base station amplifier equipment.
The plastic-encased transistors are used in wireless base station amplifiers, which rank among the most expensive components in a wireless base station. Furthermore, Agere's new products are lead-free, which reduces risks of environmental effects of the substance - a major concern in today's RF transistor market. They also are capable of continuous operation at a 200 degrees Celsius junction temperature. Agere's five overmolded plastic packaged transistors adhere to several of the world's most widely used wireless standards.
"The cost benefits of plastic RF transistors compared with ceramic ones are remarkable and undeniable," said Jagdish Rebello, PhD, analyst with iSuppli Corp. "A new family of products that decreases costs of wireless equipment, and thereby wireless services, positions Agere well as the widespread transition to plastic continues.
"This announcement represents the third major one since Agere entered the RF transistor market last year," he added. "Agere announced its entry into the business last year with cooling capabilities for base stations. And now they are announcing availability of a large number and wide range of plastic RF transistors."
Ceramic, a more expensive material than plastic, has been the main substance used with RF transistors for several years. RF transistor providers are transitioning to plastic because of cost and price pressures throughout the wireless industry.
"Wireless infrastructure equipment manufacturers are facing extreme pressure to reduce capital and operational costs," said Carlos Garcia, vice president with Agere Systems. "These demands drive the urgent need for such lower-priced RF power technology as plastic RF transistors. To build on our exciting momentum in the RF market, we are rolling out this new product family - squarely addressing what our customers need most."
The following Agere chips are being offered with overmolded plastic packaging: AGRA10, AGR09030, AGR09045, AGR09060 and AGRB10. The first four listed can be used across frequencies ranging up to 1 Gigahertz (GHz). The AGRB10 can be used in frequencies spanning 1 GHz to 2.7 GHz. These five new LDMOS devices range in power from 10 watts to 60 watts.
Agere's new line of transistors is sampling now and will be available in production quantities by May of this year. The transistors range in price from $8.50 to $32 in quantities of 10,000.
Agere Systems is a premier provider of advanced integrated circuit solutions for high-density storage, wireless data and multiservice networking applications. The company is the market leader in providing chips for desktop, mobile and consumer electronics hard disk drives. Agere's wireless data portfolio includes industry-leading solutions for data-capable cellular phones, as well as Wi-Fi/802.11 solutions for wireless LANs and computing applications. Agere also provides custom and standard networking solutions to move information across wired, wireless and enterprise networks. Agere's customers include the leading PC manufacturers, wireless terminal providers, network equipment suppliers and hard disk drive providers. More information about Agere Systems is available from its web site at
http://www.agere.com.
* Forward Concepts
Contacts:
Charlie Hartley (Agere Systems)
610-712-1728
cjhartley@agere.com
Vibha Agrawal (Agere Systems)
610-712-1737
vagrawal@agere.com
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