CONEXANT Lauches First 802.11G and 802.11A/G Wi-Fi Solutions with USB 2.0


3Com, Buffalo Technology, D-Link, IOGEAR, Linksys, NETGEAR and SMC Networks Among Leading Companies Selecting Conexant?s PRISM USB 2.0 Solutions for New WLAN Designs

RED BANK, N.J., April. 5, 2004 -/Wi-Fi Technology News/- Conexant Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CNXT), the worldwide leader in semiconductor solutions for broadband communications, enterprise networks and the digital home, today announced the availability of its newly designed PRISM GT? (802.11g) and PRISM WorldRadio? (802.11a/g) chipsets with the world?s first fully integrated universal serial bus (USB) 2.0 interface.

The combination of the high data rate 802.11g wireless and the high-speed connection provided by the USB 2.0 interface maximizes throughput for wireless PC users.

The market share leader in the high-speed 802.11/USB market, Conexant?s USB 2.0 solutions are being designed into innovative and easy-to-use products by nearly all major wireless local area network (WLAN) manufacturers including 3Com, Buffalo Technology, D-Link, IOGEAR, Linksys, NETGEAR and SMC Networks. For example, products such as PRISM-based USB 2.0 wireless network adapters will connect directly to any USB-ready PC. Consumers simply plug the adapter in and are ready to share data, printers or high-speed Internet access over existing wireless networks.

?Since the introduction of the industry's first Wi-Fi? and WHQL certified 802.11g USB 2.0 product, PRISM? solutions have gone into production with virtually every major wireless LAN retail OEM, leading service provider and PC OEM,? said Larry Ciaccia, vice president and general manager for Conexant?s Wireless Data and Networking Components Products. "We have taken our leadership position and extended it even further to offer increased integration and functionality, which can significantly lower our customer?s bill of material cost. At the same time, the launch of both an integrated single-band 802.11g and a full dual-band 802.11a/g with a USB 2.0 interface allows us to further expand our market reach."

By integrating the baseband processor, medium access controller and USB 2.0 interface into a single chip, Conexant has significantly lowered bill of material costs and enabled its customers to design new products that are fully compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standards and the USB 2.0 standard. These innovative PRISM USB 2.0 solutions also feature PRISM Nitro XM? (Xtreme Multimedia) software enhancements for industry-leading 140 Mbps performance.

?We are providing our customers with an exciting package of software features and the option of several different interfaces ? CardBus 32, mini-PCI, 16-bit parallel, serial and a variety of USB 2.0 form-factors ? to assist them in creating innovative new wireless LAN designs for retail applications, PCs and handheld devices, and integrated systems with broadband modems," commented Ciaccia. "This integration has allowed our customers to design incredibly small form factor devices like the USB stick ? which is roughly the size of your thumb ? that are now beginning to appear on retail shelves.?

PRISM USB 2.0 Chipset Features

First integrated USB 2.0 solution on the market
FCC, Microsoft?s Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) and Wi-Fi Alliance Certified
Support for Windows Media Extensions (WME) ? quality of service enhancements
PRISM SingleSource? Driver Suite ? all software and drivers in a single, easy-to-use package
PRISM Nitro XM with PRISM DirectLink? for enhanced throughput up to 140 Mbps
Comprehensive security solution ? Wi-Fi Protected Access?, CCX 2.0 certified, TLS, TTLS, MD5, LEAP and Advanced Encryption System (AES) with hardware acceleration
PRISM PowerSave? ? best-in-class power management
Backward compatible with 802.11b WLAN products and legacy USB 1.0 and 1.1 products
Superior world range, throughput and signal reliability


About Conexant
Conexant?s innovative semiconductor solutions are driving broadband communications, enterprise networks and digital home networks worldwide. The company has leveraged its expertise and leadership position in modem technologies to enable more Internet connections than all of its competitors combined, and continues to develop highly integrated silicon solutions for broadband data and media processing networks. Key products include client-side xDSL and cable modem solutions, home network processors, broadcast video encoders and decoders, digital set-top box components and systems solutions, and dial-up modems. Conexant?s suite of networking components includes a leadership portfolio of IEEE 802.11a/b/g-compliant WLAN chipsets, software and reference designs, as well as solutions for applications based on HomePlug? and HomePNA?. The company also offers a complete line of asymmetric and symmetric DSL central office solutions, which are used by service providers worldwide to deliver broadband data, voice, and video over copper telephone lines. Conexant is a fabless semiconductor company with annual run-rate revenues of $1.2 billion. The company has approximately 2,400 employees worldwide, and is headquartered in Red Bank, N.J. To learn more, please visit us at http://www.conexant.com.