Livedoor Launches New Public
WLAN Service Featuring Atheros XR™ Technology
Tokyo Metropolitan Wi-Fi Deployment
Uses High-Performance Wireless Access Points with Atheros eXtended Range
Capabilities
SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 21, 2005 -
Atheros Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHR), a leading developer of
advanced wireless LAN (WLAN) chipsets, today announced that livedoor Co., Ltd.,
a popular Internet service provider and web portal in Japan, is launching a new
public WLAN service, called D-cubic, that uses Atheros’ WLAN solution with
Atheros XR™ and Super G® performance-enhancement features. Livedoor plans to
start a trial service in July on a section of the JR Yamanote Line, a circular
train line that connects all of Tokyo's major city centers. The service will be
expanded to cover the entire Yamanote line in October. When fully deployed, the
new service will create a high-bandwidth WLAN public network that users will be
able to access from any one of 2,200 access point locations in Tokyo.
POWEREDCOM, Inc., a Tokyo Electric Power Company fixed line
carrier, will build out the network infrastructure. The service will use AP5500
access points from ICOM, Inc., which integrate Atheros’ 802.11g WLAN chips.
These access points will be set up on utility poles throughout the deployment
area. Using Atheros XR, the service will be able to provide reliable wireless
connectivity to mobile users by providing twice the coverage area outdoors per
access point in comparison to public WLAN services not using Atheros XR.
“By taking advantage of Atheros’ proven high-performance
wireless LAN solution, we can cover a wider area with each access point helping
us reach more wireless LAN users. And we can lower the infrastructure cost and
increase the service profitability,” said Motoki Terui, general manager and
operating officer, senior vice president, for livedoor. “For mobile users, we
are able to offer low cost, extended range and high-speed wireless LAN service.
Our goal is to build an advanced wireless broadband infrastructure that
eliminates users’ difficulty in finding access points.”
“Wi-Fi technology’s low cost, high performance and
widespread adoption among consumers is making it an attractive solution for
enabling WLAN public services. We are pleased to be working with livedoor and
ICOM to bring to market the benefits of WLAN public service,” said Dr. Tomoki
Ohsawa, general manager of Atheros Communications K.K. “We are also committed to
providing innovative wireless features like Super G and Atheros XR, which offer
users a better wireless user experience.”
Atheros Super G Technology
Atheros’ Super G technology employs multiple techniques,
including packet bursting, fast frames, and data compression – that dramatically
increase the throughput and range of wireless networking products.
Atheros XR (eXtended Range)
Technology
Atheros 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 G 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 plans of livedoor to deploy a WLAN public network in
Tokyo; the features, performance, capabilities and benefits of Atheros’
products, including its XR and Super G features; and the incorporation of
Atheros’ wireless technology into livedoor’s WLAN network; 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 livedoor continues to incorporate Atheros’ products into its
network; difficulties inherent in building and launching new WLAN public
networks and whether livedoor’s trial service is successful and livedoor is able
to deploy a reliable WLAN public network throughout the Tokyo area; the effects
of competition in the WLAN semiconductor market; whether Atheros’ XR and Super G
products are successful in providing reliable WLAN service in livedoor’s public
network, including use by mobile users; unforeseen delays in deploying the
public network as a result of governmental or other third party actions or
interference; 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
