Atheros Third-Generation Wireless LAN Client Solutions Deliver Robust Security, Universal Wireless Connectivity

Advanced designs support IEEE 802.11a, 11b, and final 11g standard, offer widest tuning range for worldwide use

SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 3, 2003—Atheros Communications, the market share leader in multi-standard wireless LAN (WLAN) technology, today announced its third generation of advanced WLAN client chipsets. Now shipping in volume, these chipsets are beating the industry’s previous benchmark records for range, throughput and power consumption, while supporting the latest encryption standards without compromising performance.

The third-generation products include two-chip 802.11a/b/g solutions for universal wireless connectivity anywhere in the world, 802.11b/g solutions for value-priced consumer applications, and 802.11a solutions optimized for high-performance consumer electronics and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) applications.

“Multi-standard technology is clearly the future of wireless connectivity,” said Aaron Vance, Industry Analyst at Synergy Research Group. “With a multimode 802.11a/b/g client solution, you don’t have to worry about which Wi-Fi standard will eventually win or what technology people will be using tomorrow. You’ve got them all covered. Your investment is safe whether you’re a consumer, a small business or an enterprise. Atheros’ multimode technology opens the way for wide-scale deployment of wireless networks in the enterprise, the home and public hotspots.”

“The key to future-proofing wireless products lies in the multimode client,” said Craig Barratt, president and chief executive officer of Atheros. “By choosing a universal client solution that supports 802.11a, 11b and 11g, users can take advantage of whatever access point happens to be available. Then they only need to upgrade the access point when they really need higher performance.”

In addition to the three new WLAN client chipsets, Atheros introduced several new third-generation access point chipsets. Please see the separate release on these products. All of the third-generation products announced today are now shipping in volume.

Three new WLAN client solutions

The new third-generation WLAN client chipsets introduced today are:

        AR5002X—Provides multi-standard support for universal wireless connectivity – high-performance 802.11a and 802.11g functionality at any worldwide frequency plus backward compatibility for 802.11b. This product offers certified DFS/TPC capabilities and more than 12 times the frequency range of 802.11b/g-only products. It is a single chipset that meets all worldwide radio regulations.

        AR5002G—Provides support for draft 8.2 of the 802.11g standard, the final version of the specification, for users who want a basic upgrade path from legacy 802.11b networks. Atheros is first-to-market with an implementation of this final 802.11g version. The unique experience gained in refining three generations of OFDM modulation technology enables Atheros to lead in 802.11g range, throughput and power consumption.

        AR5002A—Provides the reliable quality of service (QoS) and high-performance 5-GHz throughput required by consumer electronics companies for video, audio and voice applications. This chipset includes support for Wireless Multimedia Enhancements (WME) QoS and client polling from the draft 802.11e specification.

Each of the three new client solutions consists of just two chips—an integrated MAC-plus-baseband chip and a high-performance radio chip. These chips integrate the external filters, memories, power amplifiers and other expensive components needed to implement WLAN client devices, reducing the bill of materials cost even further than Atheros’ previous two generations of chipsets. This integration simplifies system-level designs, increases wireless performance and minimizes overall system cost.

Universal wireless connectivity

Universal wireless connectivity means that end users can establish a wireless connection no matter which WLAN standard they are using (IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b or 802.11g) and with a frequency range that covers all worldwide wireless networking spectrum. Atheros 802.11a/b/g solutions support the full 2.300–2.500 and 4.900–5.850 GHz frequency range with certified dynamic frequency selection (DFS) and transmit power control (TPC) capabilities. Users can thus be assured of connectivity to a wireless network anywhere in the world. The new AR5002X chipset supports all three WLAN standards, automatically self-configures to the appropriate frequencies and operating parameters used in any country permitting WLANs, and seamlessly roams between 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g networks.

Universal wireless connectivity also simplifies network upgrades. Clients based on the AR5002X can operate with an existing legacy 802.11b access point until users need the higher throughput of 802.11a and/or 802.11g. When the access point is upgraded to the new standard, the clients immediately and automatically adapt to the higher-speed network—a strategy similar to IT managers’ use of 10/100 network interface cards to future-proof wireline networks.

Wireless security better than wireline

A key feature of all Atheros third-generation chipsets is security without compromise. The chipsets fully support Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and the IEEE 802.11i draft security standards in hardware with high-speed encryption engines for both the Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) and the government-level Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).

True hardware support enables Atheros-based products to operate at full speed with all security functions operating. In contrast, products based on competitors’ solutions suffer a 20-50 percent performance reduction when WPA or AES is enabled.

To optimize the end-user experience, Atheros has also integrated Cisco Compatible Extensions support and the AEGIS Authentication API security technology from Meetinghouse Data Communications, Inc. directly into Atheros client reference designs and user interfaces. This software support enables developers of laptop computers with embedded wireless interfaces and retailers that sell external WLAN PC Cards to provide end users with a complete suite of industry-standard security features across all major operating systems.

The most advanced wireless networking chips available today

The third-generation technology in Atheros’ new client chipsets provides numerous improvements in performance and range, while reducing power consumption compared to competing products. Rather than relying exclusively on hefty battery-draining power amplifiers and low-noise amplifiers to improve range, for example, Atheros has increased the radio chip’s receive sensitivity and multipath tolerance to unprecedented levels. With a given transmit power, the new chips offer far better range and throughput than products based on competitor’s less-efficient solutions.

The new client chipsets also implement Atheros Super G® and Super AG® capabilities, delivering up to 90 Mbps of TCP/IP throughput for 802.11a/b/g, 802.11b/g and 802.11a wireless LANs. These standards-based and fully interoperable capabilities include a new 108-Mbps data rate design for 802.11g and 802.11a, a real-time hardware data compression engine, standards-compliant bursting support found in third-party solutions, and dynamic transmit and modulation optimizations. Super G and Super A/G are fully backward compatible with conventional 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11a products and fully support mixed-mode operation with Atheros and third-party solutions in the same network.

Atheros’ performance enhancements achieve more than 10 times the actual throughput of other wireless LAN solutions, are scalable to any number of users and are fully compatible with legacy equipment. Other solutions that offer special turbo or bursting modes are only effective under limited network conditions and adversely affect users of 802.11b or third-party 802.11g products.

About Atheros Communications, Inc.

Atheros Communications is the leading developer of networking technologies for secure, high-performance wireless local area networks. As the industry innovator and market-share leader in multi-mode wireless solutions compliant with the IEEE 802.11 specifications, Atheros is driving transparent connections among electronic devices in the office, home and on the road. Atheros technology is being used by many of the world's leading wireless equipment manufacturers including 3Com, Accton, Actiontec, Acrowave Systems, AIRAYA, Airespace, AirVast Technology, ALPS, Ambit, Aruba Wireless Networks, Askey, ASUS, Avaya, BenQ, Chantry Networks, Contec, CyberTAN, Dacom, Delta Networks, D-Link, Gemtek, Gigabyte Technology, Global Sun Tech, HP, IBM, ICOM, Intel, Intermec, I-O Data, Linksys, NEC, NETGEAR, Nortel, Philips, Proxim, Samsung, Senao, SMC Networks, Sony, Symbol Technologies, TDK, TECOM, Toshiba, Trapeze Networks, USI, W2 Networks, Wistron NeWeb, Z-Com and others. For more information, visit www.atheros.com or send email to info@atheros.com.

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For press and analyst inquiries contact: Cheryl Patstone, 408-773-5344, cheryl@atheros.com or Greg Wood, A&R Partners, 650-762-2838, gwood@arpartners.com.