ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- Agere Systems (NYSE: AGR.A, AGR.B) today announced a new advanced messaging interface (AMI) for enabling high-speed communications and applications processing in Smartphones and next-generation mobile phones. This breakthrough in wireless processor software provides a highly efficient communications interface for dual-processor GSM/GPRS, EDGE and 3G mobile phone designs, ensuring exceptional operating system (OS) performance, quick handling of multimedia and data applications, and fast time-to-market.

Smartphones use two embedded processors to offer both basic and advanced phone functions, integrating PDA-type features to deliver communication, mobile data and entertainment capabilities. Agere's new software interface manages the complexity inherent in these dual-processor designs, allowing handset manufacturers to maximize the potential of high-performance data features including real-time video and audio streaming, calendar and e-mail management, digital photo imaging, interactive games, video conferencing, polyphonic sound, and MP3 music.

"With the continued growth in mobile phone use and the convergence of wireless handset and PC applications, the industry is beginning the transition to dual-processor designs to support the innovative multimedia and entertainment features being developed," said Luc Seraphin, vice president of Agere's mobile terminals division. "Agere's AMI solution allows wireless handset developers to move beyond first-generation AT-based software interfacing and maximize GPRS functionality and performance in dual-processor mobile phones."

Capitalizing on hardware interfaces already employed by handset manufacturers, Agere's solution seamlessly links the required communications signal processing and protocol stack software -- used for handling fundamental wireless data and voice commands -- with data-enabled applications processors. Agere's AMI software overcomes the limitations found in the multiplexed AT command sets used across the industry today to deliver fast data throughput and superior applications processing in dual-processor configurations.

Agere's AMI provides a common platform for all standard operating systems -- including Symbian OS -- as well as an upgrade path to accommodate next-generation data capabilities in terminals, and network features in operator infrastructure, including EDGE and 3G.

Agere is participating in Symbian's Semiconductor Platinum Partner program, which supports the development of mobile device platforms that incorporate Symbian OS technology. Symbian is an advanced, standard OS created by wireless industry leaders for running wireless data applications. Agere's AMI solution includes a library to provide a high-level functional interface that allows applications processor code, such as Symbian OS, to be easily mapped to the interface.

Dual-processor mobile phones require a flexible interface to coordinate information coming from the phone's GPRS communications engine (GSM/GPRS protocol stack, DSP Layer 1 signal processing) and the applications processor that runs functions such as wireless application protocol (WAP) browsing, multimedia messaging service (MMS) and high-resolution graphics. AMI allows Agere's proven single processor GPRS reference platform to be split across dual processors without any software redesign or changes to the core communications processing, saving valuable time-to-market on product development, performance, interoperability, standards certification and field testing.

Current dual-processor designs rely on AT commands, which were originally developed for external modem interfaces. The AT command set is restricted in three significant areas - commands are not processed in parallel; an unproven multiplex protocol is required to use a single physical interface; and additional non-standard AT commands are needed to have full control of the GPRS engine.

Agere's AMI solution overcomes these limitations by using software that provides fast parallel processing, simultaneous data and control commands over a single physical interface, and packet-switched operation. These attributes ensure optimum partitioning of communications and applications processing, maximizing reliability and performance across various applications processor configurations, including standard OS or Agere application layer IP.

Agere's AMI software solution is expected to ship to select Agere GPRS chip set customers in fourth calendar quarter 2003, with broad availability in early 2004.

For more information, customers may visit Agere's Web site at www.agere.com or contact one of Agere's regional sales offices. Customers in the U.S. may also call the Agere Systems Customer Response Center at 1-800-372-2447. Customers in Canada may call 1-800-553-2448. Customers outside those countries may call 1-610-712-4323. Fax inquiries may be directed to 1-610-712-4106, or e-mail queries to docmaster@agere.com. Written inquiries should be sent to Agere Systems, Room 10A-301C, 1110 American Parkway NE, Lehigh Valley Central Campus, Allentown, PA, 18109, USA.

Agere Systems is a premier provider of advanced integrated circuit solutions for wireless data, high-density storage and multiservice networking applications. Agere's wireless data portfolio enables seamless network access and Internet connectivity through its GPRS offering for data-capable cellular phones, as well as Wi-Fi/802.11 solutions for wireless LANs and computing applications. The company is the market leader in providing integrated circuits for the hard disk drive market, with number one positions in sales of system-on-a-chip solutions and preamplifiers. Agere also provides custom and standard multiservice 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.