Atheros Communications
Introduces First Video Chipset for Affordable HDTV- Quality Wireless
Integrated
support for video/audio controllers and multiple-radio/smart-antenna
technologies enable reliable, low-cost HDTV, DVR and Media Center applications
SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 20, 2004
–
Atheros Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATHR), a
leading developer of advanced wireless LAN (WLAN) chipsets, today introduced the
first standards-compliant WLAN chipset optimized for high-quality multimedia
applications. The AR5005VA chipset implements reliable wireless video and audio
connections throughout the home -- even a Texas-sized home -- by integrating a
complete set of high- performance features. These features range from on-chip
interfaces to multimedia chipsets and quality of service (QoS) to
multiple-radio/smart- antenna technologies such as transmit beamforming and
receive combining.
"Wireless LANs are moving into
many new application areas," said Craig Barratt, president and chief executive
officer of Atheros Communications. "We believe that the next wave of market
growth for WLAN products will be multimedia networks driving a variety of
audio/visual devices around the home. Consumers will be able to enjoy seamless
wireless connectivity among PCs, TVs and set-top boxes, wireless DVD players and
other AV sources."
By sustaining multiple
DVD-quality links (6-8 Mbps each) or a combination of HDTV (19-24 Mbps each) and
DVD-quality links throughout homes of up to 6,000 square feet (550 square
meters), the AR5005VA chipset provides an easy unplug-and-play experience for
consumers. Since the chipset provides enhanced performance using standard
802.11a/b/g technologies and 802.11e quality of service, it also enables TVs to
pull multimedia content from personal computers using standard 802.11a/b/g
wireless networking. Users can view and organize PC-based photos and videos,
play audio sources such as MP3, Apple AAC, and Sony ATRAC files, and play video
files from Windows Media Center devices. The chipset can also eliminate the
unsightly signal cables now needed to connect wall-mounted flat-screen TVs.
Integrated
Video/Audio Controller Support
Addressing one of the biggest
barriers to wireless audio/video acceptance, Atheros has dramatically reduced
the technology's cost. Previous wireless chipsets and video/audio controllers
have been popular, but the complex and proprietary nature of integrated designs
has limited the availability of wireless multimedia.
The AR5005VA chipset brings
wireless multimedia within the reach of virtually any consumer by providing
direct support for the video/audio chipsets used in high-definition TV (HDTV),
digital TV (DTV), digital video recorders (DVRs), set-top boxes (STBs), and
Windows Media Center devices. This high level of integration makes it easy and
economical to include wireless support in new and existing consumer electronics
products. Atheros' multimedia support includes direct interfaces, as well as
MPEG-Transport Stream support, host controller, and direct memory access (DMA)
acceleration for chipsets from ALi/T-Square, ATI, ESS, Entropic, NEC
Electronics, Sigma Designs, VWeb, Zoran, and others.
The AR5005VA even includes a
universal infrared (IR) modulator and repeater capability for forwarding the
consumer's IR remote-control signals to a source device such as a DVD player or
set-top box. This functionality allows consumers to use standard IR remote
controls with an AR5005VA-based device to control existing IR-controlled
products from across the home.
Glitchless
Multimedia
The AR5005VA chipset includes
quality-of-service capabilities that ensure high-quality video and audio
delivery while simplifying product designs. The device supports 802.11e Quality
of Service and adds a number of features demanded by consumer electronics
manufacturers. To provide wired-quality reliability and consistency, for
example, the chipset includes hardware packet jitter control and MPEG packet
aggregation.
For additional flexibility, the
chipset's integrated MIPS R4000-class processor also supports many of the
Digital Living Networking Alliance (DLNA) guidelines, including MPEG
encapsulation into other protocols and encryption for digital rights management
(DRM) technology. With these capabilities, system designers can treat the
wireless interface as a link that is as simple and secure as a wired connection.
Standard
wireless networking with a kick
Because the AR5005VA chipset
uses standard WLAN protocols, it implements networks that interact and coexist
seamlessly with other standard 802.11a, b or g wireless devices, as well as
Atheros Super G® and Super AG®
devices. Super G and Super AG® products implement innovative performance-
enhancement features that can triple the available throughput of 802.11g or
11a/g networks.
The AR5005VA also introduces
multiple-radio/smart-antenna capabilities, including transmit beamforming and
multiple receive combining, with support for up to four antennas. The chipset
integrates dual orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) baseband
processors and radio devices to focus radio frequency (RF) energy toward the
intended receiver -- a unique feature for a WLAN device. The receiver uses up to
four antennas for receive combining to extend range and improve robustness. This
technique takes advantage of the significant difference in radio signals
available to multiple antennas and uses advanced signal processing to combine
the signals and thus improve overall signal strength and quality.
Products using the AR5005VA
chipset's transmit beamforming and receive combining allow consumers to use the
wireless interface just as they would a wired connection. The combined
technologies increase the effective signal by up to ten-fold or approximately
10dB. These capabilities are fully compatible with legacy WLAN devices and
provide a performance benefit even with AR5005VA products at only one end of the
link.
The AR5005VA is the first of a
family of products to feature Atheros' VLocity(TM) technology. VLocity is a
family of ultra-high performance wireless technologies, which encompasses
multiple-radio/smart-antenna, multiple- input/multiple-output (MIMO), and other
anticipated 802.11n technologies.
Price and
availability
The AR5005VA chipset is
available in both two- and four-antenna configurations. The four-antenna
configuration costs under $20 in 10,000-unit quantities. This chipset is now
shipping in sample quantities, with volume production expected to begin in Fall
2004. Prototype products based on the AR5005VA are being demonstrated at the
WIRELESS JAPAN 2004 show in Tokyo from July 21-23.
About
Atheros Communications, Inc.
Atheros Communications is a
leading developer of semiconductor system solutions for wireless communications
products. Atheros combines its wireless systems expertise with high-performance
radio frequency, mixed signal and digital semiconductor design skills to provide
highly integrated chipsets that are manufacturable on low-cost, standard
complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processes. Atheros technology is
being used by a broad base of leading customers, including personal computer and
networking equipment manufacturers. For more information, visit
www.atheros.com or send email to
info@atheros.com.
###
Atheros, the
Atheros logo, Super G and Super AG® are trademarks of Atheros Communications,
Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their
respective owners.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS:
Except for the
historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press
release, including the features, performance and benefits of Atheros' AR5005VA
chipset, and the timing of development, production and shipment of the AR5005VA
chipset for use in multimedia applications, are forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to,
the impact of competitive products and technological advances, manufacturing
difficulties, difficulties in development of enhanced and new products, Atheros'
ability to market its products and ship in volume, and other risks detailed in
Atheros' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2004,
filed with the SEC, and in other SEC filings made by Atheros from time to time.
These forward- looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Atheros
disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this
press release regarding Atheros Communications's business which are not
historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and
uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could
cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking
statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K
for the most recently ended fiscal year.
Cheryl Patstone, 408-773-5344,
cheryl@atheros.com or Greg Wood, A&R Partners, 650-762-2838,
gwood@arpartners.com.
