Lenovo Selects Atheros as
Wireless LAN Technology Provider
Atheros Single-Chip IEEE 802.11g
Solution Is Integrated Into Lenovo’s New Wireless-Enabled Laptops
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 19, 2005 –
Atheros Communications (NASDAQ: ATHR), a leading developer of advanced wireless
LAN (WLAN) chipsets, today announced that Lenovo Group Limited (formerly Legend
Computer), the largest PC vendor in China, has integrated Atheros’
high-performance, single-chip 802.11g solution into new wireless-enabled laptops
that will be sold in China and other markets.
“802.11g wireless networking is in high demand by China’s mobile computing
users,” said Chang Cheng, R&D Director of Lenovo. “With its industry-leading
wireless LAN throughput and range advantages, Atheros’ technology is the perfect
complement to our expertise in designing mobile computing products. We are
pleased to be teaming with Atheros to bring advanced 802.11g products to the
Chinese market.”
Launched on January 14, 2005, several models of Lenovo’s Y200 laptops feature
built-in wireless capability based on the Atheros AR5005G, the world’s first
complete single-chip IEEE 802.11g WLAN solution. The chip integrates an entire
802.11g solution – Media Access Controller (MAC), baseband processor,
high-performance 2.4 GHz radio, and many discrete components – in an integrated
low-cost digital CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) design.
The AR5005G uses an innovative multi-phase approach to signal processing, which
extends the battery life of mobile devices by controlling the power of different
sections of the wireless device according to the level of system and network
activity. This power-saving technique allows the chip to consume up to 98
percent less power than multi-chip WLAN solutions on the market. The AR5005G
includes hardware support for the latest WLAN security standards, including
Wi-Fi Protected Access and 802.11i Enhanced Security using Advanced Encryption
Standard (AES), so there is no reduction in performance.
“Lenovo is a trusted leader in China’s mobile computing market, and we are very
pleased to be working with them as a WLAN technology provider,” said Craig
Barratt, president and chief executive officer of Atheros Communications. “By
leveraging our superior range and throughput capabilities in these new
Atheros-based 802.11g-enabled laptops, Lenovo is able to offer its consumer and
commercial customers the ability to maximize throughput at range for wireless
computing.”
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 and the Atheros logo 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
relationship between Atheros and Lenovo, and the features, performance and
benefits of Atheros’ AR5005G single-chip solution, 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, Lenovo’s
and Atheros’ ability to market their products and ship in volume, whether Lenovo
continues to incorporate Atheros’ technologies in its products or determines in
the future to use others’ WLAN products, 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.
