TDK Systems and Silicon Wave Inc. Target Bluetooth Wireless Market

Business Wire, Oct 15, 1999

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 15, 1999--

TDK Systems Europe Ltd., the mobile communications division of TDK Corp., and Silicon Wave Inc., a U.S.-based manufacturer of highly-integrated radio frequency (RF) components, today announced collaboration plans to develop products for the growing Bluetooth wireless connectivity market.

The alliance combines Silicon Wave's innovative integrated circuit technology with TDK's mobile communications software stacks and interface expertise. The first TDK products to incorporate Silicon Wave RF devices will include PC Cards, Bluetooth kits for GSM phones, Bluetooth CompactFlash adapters, modem and LAN access points.

TDK and Silicon Wave are both uniquely positioned to develop and market products for the Bluetooth connectivity standard. TDK's position as a hardware and software supplier allows it to offer Bluetooth technology to integrators and end users on a global scale. Silicon Wave's RMC(TM) radio-modem-controller product family sets new standards for RF and logic integration on single-chip silicon, resulting in wireless components that are ideally suited for space and power-constrained applications. Silicon Wave's RF devices deliver significant advantages in size, performance and power consumption, benefits derived in part from a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) BiCMOS technology.

Keith Marsden, managing director of TDK Systems Europe commented: "With over 400 million Bluetooth enabled devices expected to be in service within the next five years the market opportunity for Bluetooth products is simply phenomenal. From our RF expertise in antennae and components, through to our protocol and systems experience, TDK has grasped Bluetooth as a global corporate opportunity. Our alliance with Silicon Wave is a strategic building block which will enable us to provide the most comprehensive range of Bluetooth products and components."

"We are excited to be partnering with TDK in offering a comprehensive Bluetooth solution for a wide spectrum of the mobile communications market. TDK's leadership in PC Card-based communications applications and Silicon Wave's RF integration expertise afford customers a one-stop source for small, low-power, low-cost Bluetooth solutions," commented Silicon Wave's Chief Executive Officer, Dave Lyon.

About Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a wireless technology that enables users to connect electronic devices quickly and easily without cables, within a 10-meter range. Over 1000 companies have joined the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), which developed and is promoting the new standard. There are thousands of applications for this new "personal connectivity" technology. Bluetooth-enabled laptop computers, for example, will provide wireless connectivity to Bluetooth cellular handsets, allowing users to check emails or browse the Internet even when the phone is tucked away in a briefcase.

Bluetooth technology is particularly well suited to compact portable electronic products. Therefore, the integrated circuit's size and power consumption must be as small as possible. Silicon Wave has successfully integrated radio and digital circuits on a single piece of silicon, thereby creating a true "system on a chip."

About TDK Systems

TDK Systems Europe Ltd. designs, manufactures and markets a range of mobile communications products including PC Cards and its GlobalPulse GSM software for handhelds, PDAs and Palms. In addition, the company develops and licences GSM, Ethernet and ISDN technologies, which it makes available to other industry leaders. The company is actively developing products that support the new wireless standard, Bluetooth. TDK Systems Europe Ltd is part of TDK Corp. www.tdksys.com

About Silicon Wave

San Diego-based Silicon Wave Inc. develops and manufactures RF-enabled system-on-chip solutions for use in wireless and wireline broadband communications systems and products. The venture-backed start-up, founded in mid-1997, has assembled a seasoned, multi-talented design team that takes a system-level approach to IC design. www.siliconwave.com