Sierra Semiconductor Says Boca Research Designs In New AccuSound™ Speakerphone Modem Chipset; New high-quality speakerphone chipset used in Boca Research's Complete Office Communicator™

Business Wire, March 6, 1995

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 6, 1995--Sierra Semiconductor Corporation announced today that Boca Research, Inc., Boca Raton, Florida, has designed Sierra's AccuSound(TM) speakerphone modem chipset into its new Complete Office Communicator(TM) card introduced in January.

The AccuSound speakerphone modem enables the Complete Office Communicator to integrate a full-duplex, conference-quality speakerphone, professional voicemail, fax, and V.32bis data communications, as well as provide for easy installation through its software-driven Plug and Play feature.

The AccuSound speakerphone modem chipset, designated SQ3228, was introduced in November 1994. The four-chip solution, footprint compatible with Sierra's standard modem chipset, adds natural- sounding, position-independent full-duplex speakerphone capability to full facsimile, data modem and telephone answering machine/ voicemail functions. In addition, the modem chipset is compatible with the new Plug and Play 1.0a specification from Microsoft(R) and Intel(R), which greatly simplifies the installation process. Plug and Play is scheduled for full implementation under Windows 95 when Microsoft's new operating system is released. Meanwhile, Sierra offers a utility program to allow jumperless software installation for the pre-Windows 95 universe, so modems designed with this new chipset offer a significant user benefit in ease of use while being Windows 95-ready at the same time.

"The Sierra AccuSound chipset allows us to innovate with a product that differentiates us from our competition," said Larry Steffann, vice president of operations for Boca Research. "Our installation is simple, and users can transform their PCs into their own personal business communications partner. Sierra's modem platform helps us deliver a product that is ideal for the growing Small Office/Home Office market."

"We use enhanced mixed signal silicon integration and advanced embedded DSP algorithms to achieve performance that is far better than conventional speakerphones," said Dick Koeltl, Sierra president and chief operating officer, in making the announcement. "And, since the quality level has been judged in customer tests to be the equivalent of corporate conferencing systems costing $1,000 or more, the user can effectively have boardroom quality at a consumer price."

Sierra Semiconductor develops and markets products that provide its customers with advanced communications semiconductor system solutions for the global information network. The company's hardware and software products are fundamental elements in the communications of analog, digital, audio and visual data.

Sierra, with offices throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe, is headquartered in San Jose, California, and is traded on NASDAQ under the symbol SERA.

Boca Research, Inc. (NASDAQ:BDCI) designs, manufactures, markets and supports networking products and hardware enhancement products for personal computers. The company currently offers products for video graphics, data communications, multimedia communications, and local area networks. Boca Research is located at 1377 Clint Moore Road, Boca Raton, Florida, 33487-2722. Telephone: 407/997-6227. FAX: 407/994-5848.

CONTACT: Sierra Semiconductor Corporation, San Jose

Gary W. Breeding, 408/263-9300