Intersil's PRISM Technology Combined With Sharp's Original MAC Technology Yields Sharp's New Wireless TV System; Wireless Connectivity Enables Mobile TV Viewing Throughout the Home

Business Wire, Oct 4, 2001

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 4, 2001

Intersil (Nasdaq:ISIL), the world's leading developer of silicon technology for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), today announced that Sharp Corporation, a leader in LCD TV, has integrated Intersil's PRISM(R) WLAN chip sets in their new AN-SS700 audio/visual digital transmission system that allows wireless television viewing throughout the home as long as an electrical outlet is available.

"Its exciting to see a highly respected company such as Sharp extend wireless connectivity to consumer television products," said Allen Nogee, Senior Industry Analyst for Cahners In-Stat. "Sharp's new LCD system, enabled by Intersil's PRISM WLAN technology, is a significant step forward in driving consumer market adoption of Wi-Fi (802.11b) products."

The AN-SS700 is a highly efficient, completely digital, high-speed wireless system that operates in the 2.4 GHz band. PRISM's wireless technology enables Sharp's audio/visual system to provide high-quality, low-noise reception in rooms blocked by walls or out of line-of-sight.

"Sharp's new audio/visual digital transmission system is further evidence of the growing acceptance of wireless reception for the home and promises to liberate consumers from a cumbersome wired world," said Larry Ciaccia, vice president and general manager of Intersil's Wireless Networking Business. "Original equipment manufacturers are producing a wide-range of stimulating and exciting PRISM-based products that extend beyond traditional PC-based applications in the emerging home market."

The AN-SS700's compact package includes a transmitter and receiver each measuring approximately 5.83 (width) by 3.11 (height) by 1.54 (depth) inches. Using PRISM WLAN technology, Sharp's original MAC technology and a high performance MPEG2 encoder/decoder to handle compressed audio and video, the AN-SS700 transmitter is connected to a VCR, DVD player or satellite tuner by composite video signal. The video pictures received by the AN-SS700 are wirelessly transmitted as digital signals and viewed remotely in the home on the LCD TV connected to the receiver unit. A wireless remote control enables the user to operate the transmitter and typical audio-visual equipment attached to the transmitter.

Intersil's PRISM chip sets are the most highly integrated WLAN silicon solutions on the market. PRISM chip sets deliver wireless Ethernet networking with compliance to the Wi-Fi (IEEE's 802.11b) global standard. Optimized for high data rate (11 Mbps) performance, PRISM-based systems are feature-rich and provide fast, reliable performance in all types of networking environments. Advanced design and process technologies reduce power consumption, design complexity and total system cost.

The Global Wireless Market Embraces PRISM WLAN Technology

"Intersil is the number one manufacturer of wireless LAN chipsets and has been a driving force behind the success of WLANs," said a May 2001 WLAN report from Cahners In-Stat Group. Since introducing the PRISM WLAN chip set in 1996, over 50 of the industry-leading companies including Actiontec, Alcatel, Cisco, Compaq, 3Com, Dell, D-Link, GemTek, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Legend, Linksys, Nokia, Nortel, Panasonic, Quanta, Samsung, Sharp, Siemens, SOHOware, Sony, SpectraLink, Symbol and Zoom have incorporated PRISM chips in more than 100 product designs. PRISM technology is designed to comply with the IEEE's 802.11 global standard, and Intersil is a founding sponsor of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA), whose Wi-Fi brand is a mark of compatibility for 802.11-based systems.

About Sharp

Sharp Corporation is a worldwide developer of the core technologies that are integral to shaping the next generation of home entertainment, appliance and digital office equipment systems. A leader in liquid crystal display (LCD), Sharp is the developer of the revolutionary Viewcam camcorders, AQUOS Liquid Crystal Display Televisions and SharpVision line of LCD projection products. Sharp continues to demonstrate its home entertainment leadership by advancing technologies such as High Definition Television (HDTV) and 1-Bit audio technology.

About Intersil

Intersil is a global leader in designing innovative wireless networking and high performance analog solutions that enable wireless access to video, data and voice in homes, offices and public places. Creating advanced power management products, Intersil provides reliable solutions for file servers, portable information appliances and over half of all computer microprocessors manufactured today. With a rich high performance analog and mixed signal portfolio, Intersil brings added value in providing complete silicon, software and reference design solutions to new products that bring portable connectivity to people wherever they live, work or travel. Headquartered in Irvine, California, Intersil has offices in cities throughout the US, Europe and Asia. For more information about Intersil or to find out how to become a member of our winning team, visit the company's Web site and career page at http://www.intersil.com.