Atheros Communications Delivers a Cellular/Wi-Fi Connectivity Solution Compatible with QUALCOMM Chipsets

Strategic Collaboration Contributes to the Development of Advanced Cellular Mobile Handsets with Wi-Fi Connectivity

SANTA CLARA, Calif., February 10, 2006— Atheros Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHR), a leading developer of advanced wireless solutions, today announced a collaboration with QUALCOMM Incorporated to develop interoperability between Atheros’ highly integrated, single-chip Radio-on-Chip for Mobile™ (ROCm) solution and select QUALCOMM Mobile Station Modem™ (MSM™) chipsets. The ROCm solution will initially interoperate with the MSM6550™ for CDMA2000® networks and the MSM6280™ chipset for WCDMA (UMTS) networks. The combined solutions will enable cellular devices to support 802.11g and 802.11a/g wireless LAN (WLAN) technology.

“We are pleased to work with QUALCOMM, the recognized leader in CDMA and 3G cellular technologies,” said Craig Barratt, president and chief executive officer of Atheros Communications. “Our relationship has resulted in the combination of two of the world’s most popular wireless technologies in a single solution. This will result in true mobility, enabling wireless users to achieve anywhere, anytime connectivity to people, content and services.

“The strategic collaboration between QUALCOMM and Atheros focuses on the growing worldwide demand for additional connectivity features in mobile handsets,” said Mike Concannon, vice president of strategic products for QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies. “Having support for Atheros’ ROCm solutions on our MSM chipsets helps us continue to bring a new level of mobility to wireless users and deliver numerous new possibilities to the wireless industry.”

The ROCm solutions supported by QUALCOMM’s MSM chipsets will provide handset OEMs and ODMs with an additional way to address the rapidly growing market for advanced mobile phones that deliver voice, data, multimedia content and services across both cellular and Wi-Fi networks. WLAN technology offers support for applications such as Voice-over-IP (VoIP), voice calls with simultaneous data transfer and other data-intensive applications.

The Atheros ROCm solution offers cellular device OEMs and ODMs the benefit of significant time-to-market advantage delivered with this turnkey, pre-packaged, cellular/Wi-Fi solution. In addition, this optimized solution satisfies the demanding design requirements for WLAN inclusion in mobile phones with its small form factor, low power consumption and high-performance connectivity. ROCm Wi-Fi solutions have achieved significant design wins with leading OEMs in every segment of the mobile market based on their ability to satisfy these requirements.

The initial interoperable Atheros ROCm and QUALCOMM MSM solution will be demonstrated next week at 3GSM in Barcelona and is scheduled to be commercially available by June 2006. 

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, networking equipment and handset manufacturers. For more information, visit www.atheros.com or send email to info@atheros.com.

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Atheros, the Atheros logo, and ROCm are trademarks of Atheros Communications, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the sole property of their respective owners.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT:

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including the features, performance and benefits of the joint cellular/Wi-Fi solution of Atheros and QUALCOMM; the expected growth of the market for mobile handsets that provide wireless services over both cellular and Wi-Fi networks; the expected time to market advantage of the Atheros and QUALCOMM joint solution; the anticipated timing of commercial availability of the joint solution; and the anticipated success of the collaboration between Atheros and QUALCOMM, 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; unforeseen defects in the integration of Atheros’ and QUALCOMM’s products that may be discovered upon volume production and broad deployment; manufacturing difficulties; difficulties in development of enhanced and new products; whether Atheros and QUALCOMM are successful in marketing and selling the joint solution; Atheros’ lack of experience in cellular handset markets; whether the markets for Wi-Fi-enabled mobile devices grow; general economic conditions; the effects of regulation of cellular and other wireless markets; and other risks detailed in Atheros’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, 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.