Atheros Communications
Launches Smart-Antenna Wireless Chipset Delivering MIMO Performance to
Standard 802.11 Products
Phased Array Beamforming, Cyclic
Delay Diversity, and Optimal Receive Combining Technologies Increase User
Throughput and Range With Maximum Compatibility
2005 INTERNATIONAL CES, LAS VEGAS,
Jan. 6, 2005—Atheros Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHR), a leading
developer of advanced wireless LAN (WLAN) chipsets, today introduced the new
AR5005VL wireless solution that employs multiple-radio, smart-antenna
technologies to deliver MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) performance and
industry-leading throughput to standard 802.11 WLAN products. The AR5005VL
chipset uses phased array beamforming, cyclic delay diversity, and optimal
receive combining to deliver higher performance even when the new chipset is
only on one end of a wireless connection. The new chipset therefore enables
breakthrough performance with maximum compatibility for the millions of Wi-Fi
products in the market.
Based on Atheros’ VLocity™ High-Performance Wireless
Technologies, the new solution is unique in its ability to boost performance
when on both ends of a wireless link (multiple input and multiple output), on
the transmit side only (multiple output), or on the receive side only (multiple
input). As a result, home routers, enterprise access points, or public hot
spots that use VLocity deliver higher performance with a wide array of non-MIMO
wireless LAN devices, including end users’ existing network interface cards,
laptops with embedded wireless LAN, and digital media adapters.
The AR5005VL chipset is available in both 802.11g and
802.11a/g versions, supporting configurations with up to four antennas. These
chipsets deliver up to 50 Mbps of actual user throughput when operating on both
sides of the wireless connection. In mixed networks with a wide range of
different 802.11g products, the Atheros technology delivers up to 27 Mbps of
user throughput across a 3000-square-foot home even when on just one side of the
link.
In contrast, other MIMO products deliver less than 18 Mbps
of user throughput when communicating with non-MIMO devices and fall back to a
diversity-only mode that only uses just one antenna at a time. Even when these
competing products are on both sides of the link, they achieve only 40 Mbps of
actual throughput. The Atheros solution thus delivers significantly better
throughput in any configuration, with dramatically improved throughput when on
just one end of the link.
“Sophisticated users demand that their access points
provide 100 percent coverage as well as high bandwidth to each user in the
wireless network,” said Craig Barratt, president and chief executive officer of
Atheros Communications. “Smart-antenna technologies improve wireless networking
by combining the power of multiple radios with the latest generation of signal
processing capabilities. Users need this technology to work transparently with
the wide range of products out there, from gaming adapters to PDAs and the
latest laptops. That’s where the VLocity technology comes in with MIMO
performance and maximum compatibility.”
The AR5005VL chipset supports up to four antennas to extend
range and improve network performance. Rather than rely on a proprietary
pre-802.11n (pre-n) transmission method, the chipset uses multiple radio outputs
to focus a coherent 802.11a/g signal towards the receiver—combining the
techniques of phased array beamforming and cyclic delay diversity—in a way that
is fully compatible with existing WLAN radios. The chipset also uses advanced
signal processing techniques to combine multiple 802.11a/g radio inputs so as to
improve overall signal strength and quality. This approach increases performance
in any deployment scenario, maximizing compatibility with both MIMO and non-MIMO
devices.
Price and availability
The 802.11a/g version of the AR5005VL chipset costs under
$23 in 10,000-unit quantities. The 802.11g version costs under $20. The chipsets
are in volume production now. End-user products based on the AR5005VL are being
demonstrated at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas from January
6-9, 2005.
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
(RF), 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, and VLocity are
trademarks of Atheros Communications, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in
this document are the sole 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’ AR5005VL chipset, and the timing
of development, production and shipment of the AR5005VL 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 September 30, 2004 as filed
with the SEC and in other reports filed with the SEC 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.
Cheryl Patstone, 408-773-5344,
cheryl@atheros.com or Greg Wood, A&R Partners, 650-762-2838,
gwood@arpartners.com.
