NEC Introduces First
Business-class Laptops Featuring Atheros XR™ (eXtended Range) and Super AG®
WLAN Technology
Atheros Dual-band 802.11a/g Chips
Bring Advanced Wireless Capabilities to New VersaPro Series Laptops
SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 21, 2005—Atheros
Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHR), a leading developer of advanced wireless
LAN (WLAN) chipsets, today announced that NEC Corp., the leading supplier of PCs
in Japan[1],
has launched 12 new laptop models that use Atheros’ dual-band 802.11a/g WLAN
solution with eXtended Range (XR) capability. Atheros XR™ enables mobile users
to maintain wireless connections outdoors at twice the distance of products
without this feature.
The new NEC VersaPro Mobile Note or All in One Note
business laptops offer industry-leading WLAN performance based on a built-in
802.11a/g miniPCI adapter using Atheros technology. In addition to Atheros XR
support, these wireless-enabled laptops include support for Atheros’ popular
Super AG® high performance feature set. Super AG employs multiple techniques,
including packet bursting, fast frames, and data compression – that dramatically
increase the throughput and range of wireless networking products.
Using dual-band 802.11a/g WLAN technology, the laptops
enable mobile users to wirelessly connect to any 802.11b, 802.11g or 802.11a/g
access point. Additionally, the NEC VersaPro Mobile Note series of laptops
integrates high security features and functionality with a finger print
authentication sensor and software that helps prevent information leaks.
“Just as Atheros’ Super features have been widely deployed
by the leading wireless equipment companies because of their
performance-boosting effect, we believe XR will become equally as popular
because of its ability to extend the usable range of wireless LAN products,”
said Dr. Tomoki Ohsawa, general manager of Atheros Communications K.K. “NEC’s
advanced wireless feature set combined with its experience in the mobile
computing market will enable them to continue to bring to market compelling
solutions that meet their customers’ growing wireless needs.”
The new NEC VersaPro series of notebook PCs are currently
available in Japan. The 12 models with Atheros XR and Super AG support include
the VersaPro Mobile Note (Large screen type): VY17F/LV-U, VY17F/LX-U,
VY13M/LX-U, VJ17F/LV-U, VJ17F/LX-U and VJ13M/LX-U; and All in One Note (Standard
type): VY18F/RF-U, VY17F/RF-U, VY13M/RF-U, VJ18F/RF-U, VJ17F/RF-U and
VJ13M/RF-U.
Atheros eXtended Range Technology
XR technology provides single access point coverage in home
networking environments, eliminates the dead spots in corporate wireless LANs,
and provides outdoor coverage of up to two times the distance of competing WLAN
solutions.
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, Atheros XR and
Super AG 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
statements regarding the features, performance, capabilities and benefits of
Atheros’ and NEC’s products and the incorporation of Atheros’ wireless
technology into NEC’s laptops, and the anticipated market success of XR
capability; 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, whether NEC continues to incorporate
Atheros’ products into its laptops; whether NEC purchases significant amounts of
Atheros’ products; the effects of competition in the WLAN semiconductor and
laptop computer markets; whether extended range capabilities are successful in
the WLAN market; general economic conditions, particularly in Japan; and other
risks detailed in Atheros’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 2005 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,
For analyst contact: Deborah Stapleton, Investor
Relations for Atheros, 650-470-0200,
deb@stapleton.com
