|
ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS
WIRE)--April 3, 2002-- Wind River Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:WIND
- news), a leading provider of software and services for
connected devices, and Atheros Communications, the leader in
wireless OFDM technology compliant with the IEEE 802.11
specifications, have established an agreement that will
enable Atheros to license and resell Wind River's Tornado®
for Home Gateways platform with Atheros 802.11a access point
reference designs. The integrated software platform from
Atheros and Wind River can be used as is or as a starting
point for developers to create their own unique products
ranging from enterprise-class access points to DSL/cable
home gateway solutions with embedded 802.11a connectivity.
``The availability of 802.11-based devices is a key factor
in the expansion of the wireless market,'' said Dave Fraser,
group vice president and general manager of Wind River's
Networks business unit. ``Wind River's wireless technology,
including solution level products, embedded networking
protocols, and key partnerships underscores our interest in
leading this movement. The agreement between Atheros and
Wind River enables our mutual customers to quickly build
802.11a devices by leveraging the integration of our
products and spending the time saved by focusing on their
own innovations.''
A reference design that includes Wind River's Tornado for
Home Gateways technology is currently available for the
Atheros AR5000, the industry's first 802.11a chipset in
commercial production. Atheros also plans to offer Tornado
for Home Gateways technology in a reference design based on
the new AR5001AP chipset, the industry's most highly
integrated WLAN access point solution. The AR5001AP
Integrated Access Point Chipset combines a high-performance
microprocessor with multiple wired and wireless interfaces
on two all-CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor)
chips, dramatically reducing the cost and complexity of WLAN
access points, wireless repeaters, outdoor wireless devices,
residential gateways, and audio/video solutions.
The Atheros AR5000 and AR5001AP chipsets are ideal for
wireless networking applications in the enterprise,
industrial, public access, and telematics market segments,
and provide an excellent platform for next-generation
wireless multimedia devices in the home. Whether in the
automotive, industrial, enterprise, or consumer electronics
industries, the high data rates and reliable performance of
802.11a technology are finding their way into a wide range
of wireless networking applications.
``We chose Wind River as a partner because of the depth and
breadth of their embedded software technology -- technology
that we can easily leverage,'' said Mark Bercow, vice
president of Marketing at Atheros Communications. ``Wind
River's platform gives our customers an edge by helping them
rapidly develop and introduce innovative, reliable 802.11a
access points, gateways, and embedded solutions.''
802.11a is an IEEE standard for wireless communication in
the 5-GHz band. Devices based on IEEE 802.11a can operate at
standard rates of up to 54Mbps, and can reach speeds of up
to 108Mbps using the Turbo Mode rates developed by Atheros
Communications. In addition to operating in up to 19
non-overlapping channels of the relatively interference-free
5-GHz band, the OFDM (orthogonal frequency division
multiplexing) modulation used by 802.11a devices facilitates
more efficient bandwidth usage, reduces the effects of
multi-path environments, and increases resiliency to RF
interference. These factors provide the scalability required
for large-scale enterprise deployment of WLAN products and
enable bandwidth intensive applications such as streaming
video in consumer applications.
Atheros Communications is the leading developer of
networking technologies for secure, high-performance
wireless local area networks. As the industry innovator and
market-share leader in wireless OFDM technology compliant
with the IEEE 802.11 specifications, Atheros is driving
transparent connections among electronic devices in the
office, home and on the road. Atheros technology is being
used by many of the world's leading wireless equipment
manufacturers including Accton, Actiontec, ALPS Electric,
D-Link, Intel, Intermec, Netgear, Philips, Proxim, SMC
Networks, Sony, TDK, UltraDevices and others. For more
information, visit www.atheros.com
or send email to info@atheros.com.
Wind River is a worldwide leader in integrated embedded
software solutions for creating reliable and innovative
connected devices. Wind River provides development tools,
embedded operating systems, and advanced connectivity
software for use in products in network infrastructure,
digital consumer electronics, automotive, industrial, and
aerospace/defense markets. Wind River is How Smart Things
Think(TM). Founded in 1981, Wind River is headquartered in
Alameda, Calif., with operations worldwide.
Note to Editors: Wind River Systems, the Wind
River Systems logo and Tornado are registered trademarks of
Wind River Systems, Inc. All other names mentioned are
trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their
respective companies or organizations.
Cheryl Patstone, 408-773-5344, cheryl@atheros.com
or Greg Wood, A&R Partners, 650-762-2838, gwood@arpartners.com.
View All Press Releases
|
