New Members Join WWiSE Consortium for IEEE 802.11n Wi-Fi Standard



WWiSE Consortium for IEEE 802.11n Welcomes New Members; Updates Proposal for Next Phase of Selection Procedure



DALLAS, -/20 April, 2005 - Wi-Fi Technology Forum/- The World Wide Spectrum Efficiency (WWiSE) consortium, a group of companies which has developed a complete proposal for the IEEE 802.11 Task Group N (TGn), announced that several new members have recently joined its ranks. France Telecom, ITRI (Industrial Technology Research Institute of Taiwan), and NTT (Japan) bring to 17 the number of companies supporting the WWiSE proposal, further strengthening the global interest in WWiSE, now from wireless operators and carriers.

With the new member additions, WWiSE continues to build momentum for its proposal, which remains a contender for adoption by the IEEE. TGn is chartered with developing a next-generation Wi-Fi standard capable of sustaining data throughput in excess of 100Mbps. The other members of the WWiSE consortium are Airgo Networks, Broadcom Corporation, Buffalo, Conexant Systems, Inc., ETRI, Hughes Network Systems, Motorola, Nokia, Ralink Technology, Realtek, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN - News), TrellisWare Technologies and Winbond Electronics.


IEEE 802.11 Task Group N is presently executing the proposal selection procedure, which requires a 75 percent affirmative vote by its constituencies. With the assistance of its newest members, WWiSE continues to enhance, improve and gain support for its proposal. WWiSE may still be selected as the baseline new draft standard, according to the procedure used by TGn.


"WWiSE welcomes France Telecom, ITRI and NTT. Their contributions will help enhance WWiSE's straightforward, spectrum-efficient proposal," said Jim Zyren, a WWiSE spokesperson and director of marketing, wireless networking business unit, Conexant Systems, Inc. "We are working hard to prepare for the next IEEE 802.11 meeting where the WWiSE proposal can be reconsidered. Our efforts now will also assist greatly in preparing for an eventual merger of proposals, something that the voting results from the previous meeting strongly suggest will be necessary."


"Within WWiSE, discussion continues on the basis of technical merit to specify a state-of-the-art standard. This will enable high-performance low- cost 802.11n WLAN products," said George Nahon, Head of San Francisco R&D Lab, France Telecom. "France Telecom is looking forward to contributing to these discussions by providing requirements and feedback from our business units as well as technical expertise from our R&D division, including specialists in state-of-the-art Turbo Coding technology."


"ITRI believes the IEEE 802.11n standard will become a valuable driving force to meet an increasing high-throughput demand in the digital home applications and services," said Dr. Chih-Lin I, Director of Wireless Communication Department, Computer and Communication Research Lab (CCL), Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). "Among all the proposals, only the WWiSE proposal has been substantially stable as a specification since August 2004. It is the simplest implementation that provides a fast connection yet compatible with the current IEEE 802.11a/b/g technologies. We believe ITRI's experience and expertise in low power wireless communication system design and other enabling technologies will further strengthen the WWISE proposal for a speedy time to market of 802.11n based solutions." ITRI, as a member of WWiSE, will add to the group's in-depth understanding of converged networks.


"NTT believes the IEEE 802.11n standard will be an important standard for extending public wireless LAN services as well as for home and enterprise environment," said Shuji Kubota, executive manager of wireless access project, NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories. "Together with Lucent Technologies, NTT jointly proposed OFDM-based PHY technology for 5GHz band which was adopted in IEEE 802.11a standard. We believe our experience in previous standardization activities such as 802.11a and 802.11j strengthen the WWiSE proposal for 802.11n."


Further information about WWiSE and the updated WWiSE proposal to IEEE 802.11 TGn may be found at http://www.wwise.org .


About Airgo Networks, Inc.

The founders of Airgo Networks have pioneered a wireless communication technique known as Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM). A breakthrough in wireless, MIMO OFDM has been adopted as the foundation for defining the new IEEE 802.11n standard for next generation Wi-Fi(r). Airgo is first-to-market with 802.11a/b/g-compliant MIMO enhanced chipset, software and reference design solutions. Airgo's True MIMO(tm) technology substantially improves performance and reliability, enabling the most bandwidth-intensive applications and eliminating the need for wires at home, at work, and in public places. Founded in January 2001, the company is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA. More information is available at http://www.airgonetworks.com .


About Broadcom

Broadcom Corporation is a global leader in wired and wireless broadband communications semiconductors. Our products enable the convergence of high- speed data, high definition video, voice and audio at home, in the office and on the go. Broadcom provides manufacturers of computing and networking equipment, digital entertainment and broadband access products, and mobile devices with the industry's broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on- a-chip and software solutions. These solutions support our core mission: Connecting everything?. Broadcom is one of the world's largest fabless semiconductor companies, with annual revenue of more than $2 billion. The company is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with offices and research facilities in North America, Asia and Europe. Broadcom may be contacted at 1-949-450-8700 or at http://www.broadcom.com .


About Buffalo Technology

Buffalo Technology (USA), Inc., based in Austin, Texas, is a leading global provider of award-winning networking, memory, storage and multi-media solutions for the home and small business environments as well as for system builders and integrators. With almost three decades of networking and computer peripheral experience, Buffalo has proven its commitment to delivering innovative, best-of-breed solutions that have put the company at the forefront of infrastructure technology. For more information about Buffalo Technology and its products, please visit http://www.buffalotech.com .


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(SM) and HomePNA(TM). 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 that recorded more than $900 million in revenues in fiscal year 2004. The company has approximately 2,400 employees worldwide, and is headquartered in Newport Beach, Calif. To learn more, please visit http://www.conexant.com .


About ETRI

Established in 1976, ETRI (Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute) is a non-profit government-funded research organization that has been at the forefront of technological excellence for more than 25 years. Our research institute has successfully developed information technologies such as TDX-Exchange, High Density Semiconductor Microchips, Mini-Super Computer (TiCOM), and Digital Mobile Telecommunication System (CDMA). As a recognized leader in the information and telecommunication research institute in Korea, we will strive to be the best in the fields of information and telecommunications. In the 21st century, by combining knowledge and information with computer and telecommunication, we will open the door to the future multimedia and telecommunication age. For more information, visit http://www.etri.re.kr .


About France Telecom

France Telecom is one of the world's leading telecommunications carriers, with 121.5 million customers on the five continents (220 countries and territories) and consolidated operating revenues of 46.1 billion euros for 2003 (23.2 billion euros for 1st semester 2004). Through its major international brands, including Orange, Wanadoo, Equant and GlobeCast, France Telecom provides businesses, consumers and other carriers with a complete portfolio of solutions that spans local, long-distance and international telephony, wireless, Internet, multimedia, data, broadcast and cable TV services. France Telecom puts technological innovation at the heart of its concerns. With 4200 researchers and 7300 patents, its R&D is the engine of its innovation capability, in France and abroad. Its role is to anticipate technological revolutions and new uses, providing innovation to offer customers the best from telecommunications, simultaneously imagining today the technologies which will be part of their daily life tomorrow. Its R&D's results have put the Group in the leading position in the world in terms of telecommunications research and development. Established on 16 sites, including 8 abroad (London, San Francisco, Boston, Tokyo, Varsow, Beijing, Seoul, New Delhi), the researchers of France Telecom are involved in the design and the development of approximately 70% of the products of the group. http://www.rd.francetelecom.fr


About Hughes Network Systems

Hughes Network Systems, Inc. (HNS), a wholly owned subsidiary of The DIRECTV Group, Inc., is the world's leading provider of broadband satellite network solutions for businesses and consumers, with more than 800,000 systems ordered or shipped to customers in 85 countries. HNS pioneered the development of high-speed satellite Internet access services, which it markets globally under the DIRECWAY? brand. Headquartered outside Washington, D.C., in Germantown, Maryland, USA, HNS maintains sales and support offices worldwide. The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (NYSE: DTV - News) is 34 percent owned by Fox Entertainment Group, which is approximately 98.8 percent owned by News Corporation Ltd. For additional information, please visit http://www.hns.com .


About ITRI

The Industrial Technology Research Institute -- ITRI -- is a non-profit R&D organization engaging in applied research and technical service. It was founded in 1973 by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) to address the technological needs of Taiwan's industrial development. ITRI has played a vital role in the transformation of the economy from an agriculture-based model to an industrial one. By year 2005 it has grown to a 6000 people operation and serves as the technical center for the industry as well as an unofficial arm of the government's industrial policies in Taiwan. Backed by its broad research scope and close industrial ties, ITRI is becoming an increasingly active member in the global industrial R&D community.


About Motorola

Motorola is a Fortune 100 global communications leader that provides seamless mobility products and solutions across broadband, embedded systems and wireless networks. In your home, auto, workplace, and all spaces in between, seamless mobility means you can reach the people, things and information you need, anywhere, anytime. Seamless mobility harnesses the power of technology convergence and enables smarter, faster, cost-effective and flexible communication. Motorola had sales of US $31.3 billion in 2004. For more information: http://www.motorola.com .


About Nokia

Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations. http://www.nokia.com .


About NTT

NTT is a leading telecommunication company in Japan. It was privatized in 1985. In 1999, NTT was reorganized according to a holding company scheme, into NTT East, NTT West, and NTT Communications under the NTT holding company. In November 2004, NTT announced the NTT Group's Medium-Term Management Strategy, of which the primary task is to build a safe and secure full-IP next generation network combined with optical fiber access. Its consolidated operating revenue and net income in fiscal year ended March 31, 2004 were 11,095.5 billion yen and 643.9 billion yen, respectively. More information is available at http://www.ntt.co.jp .


About Ralink

Ralink Technology is a leading developer of wireless chipsets dedicated to the IEEE 802.11x standards, with emphasis on high performance, low cost, strong support and fast delivery. Its product portfolio includes 11b, 11b/g and 11a/b/g complete chipset solutions, which propel a broad range of networking devices and notebooks globally. Currently, the company is offering adaptive antenna chipset that achieves MIMO performance in stability and range with legacy devices. In addition, the company is working with industry alliance to develop advanced 11n and 11n SoC solutions that will incorporate its MIMObility(TM) technology to raise wireless speed to wireline levels. The headquarters is in Hsinchu, Taiwan, and its R&D is jointly performed in Hsinchu and Cupertino, California. For more information, visit http://www.ralinktech.com.tw or send email to info@ralinktech.com .


About Realtek

Realtek Semiconductor Corp., located in the Hsinchu Science-based Industrial Park -- Taiwan's "Silicon Valley" -- began with a small group of young, devoted engineers in 1987. In nearly two decades, these young founding engineers built Realtek into one of the world's largest and most successful IC design houses. Realtek's efforts to provide the ultimate in pioneering IC technology -- along with its firm commitment to creating unique and innovative designs for a broad range of high-tech applications -- have won the company a worldwide reputation and made possible a favorable and consistent growth rate in the years since its establishment. We attribute this achievement to Realtek's tradition of excellence. Please visit http://www.realtek.com.tw


About STMicroelectronics

STMicroelectronics is a global leader in developing and delivering semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications. An unrivalled combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength, Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners positions the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and its products play a key role in enabling today's convergence markets. The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on Euronext Paris and on the Milan Stock Exchange. In 2004, the Company's net revenues were $8.76 billion and net earnings were $601 million. Further information on ST can be found at http://www.st.com .


About Texas Instruments

For OEMs developing broadband communications solutions, TI's advanced signal processing-based silicon and software platforms deliver the optimal performance, lower power consumption, and system-level integration required to rapidly deploy differentiated next-generation products for cable modems, digital subscriber line (xDSL) modems, integrated access devices (IADs), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) gateways, carrier infrastructure, and home and office wireless networking. See http://www.ti.com/broadband .


About TrellisWare Technologies

TrellisWare Technologies, Inc. is an innovative communications technology company that produces superior digital designs for leading-edge communication applications. Founded as a spin-off from ViaSat, Inc. (VSAT) in July 2000, with the vision of enabling robust broadband wireless and wireline communications systems, we deliver "physical layer" processing solutions for complex, dynamic environments that enhance voice and data communication systems and significantly increases system capacity. We are headquartered in the community of Rancho Bernardo in San Diego, California, USA. See http://www.trellisware.com .


About Winbond Electronics

Winbond Electronics Corporation, the largest IDM (Integrated Device Manufacturer) in Taiwan, was established in 1987 in the Hsinchu Science-Based Industrial Park. Winbond's product lines include micro-controller-based consumer products, PC and peripheral ICs, network access products, memory IC products and so on. In Taiwan and Eastern Asia, Winbond is the leading supplier of Logic Products, such as Motherboard related I/O Controllers, Speech ICs, in the global market. Winbond currently has three wafer fabs with around 4,000 employees worldwide, and possesses the most advanced 0.11-micron DRAM process technology. Winbond's headquarter is located in the city of Hsinchu in Taiwan and has subsidiaries located in the United States, Hong Kong, Mainland China and Japan. Further information about Winbond is available at http://www.winbond.com .