Voyager Technologies and Smartsand join forces to offer wireless and non-wireless IP cores

IP News VOYAGER TECHNOLOGIES AND SMARTSAND
JOIN FORCES TO OFFER WIRELESS
AND NON-WIRELESS IP CORES

The Strategic Alliance will expedite the introduction of a line of Wireless and Non-Wireless Semiconductor Intellectual Property (IP) Cores under the Voyager brand name.

Sunnyvale, CA – September 15, 1999 –Voyager Technologies, Inc., of Morgan Hill, California and SmartSand, Inc., of Sunnyvale, California jointly announced today a strategic alliance between the two companies. Voyager is a leading provider of Wireless solutions in the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) bands at 2.4GHz and 900MHz. SmartSand is a reputable digital IC design center specializing in System-on-Chip (SoC) integration. The new alliance was formed to expedite the delivery of Voyager's Wireless IP cores to the market and offer additional, Non-Wireless, IP cores. It also more than doubles the company's design capabilities and allows faster time-to-market response to the "exploding" wireless product market.

The Wireless FHSS Cores
The first Wireless IP core that was introduced is the FHSS2401 Frequency Hopping Baseband controller, to be followed by the FHSS2402 BlueTooth™ compatible Baseband controller.
Future cores will include Direct Sequence cores, higher integration Wireless IP cores, mixed signal cores, and Non-Wireless cores.

The Technology
The Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) cores design are derived from Voyager's many years of experience in designing FHSS, DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) and other RF interface cores for its OEM customers and implementing these designs in ASICs and working products. The cores are therefore silicon proven. They also include Voyager's Patented Spread Spectrum technology and robust, low-cost transceiver features. The technology includes modulation control and fast synchronization techniques and is protected under Voyager's US patents 5258996, 5258997 and other patents that are pending. The basis of this technology is optimized toward the use of cordless telephones, personal communications, home automation and home networking environments. It allows for the Bill of Materials for the complete FHSS transceiver to be under $10 in large quantities.

Applications for the FHSS Core
The FHSS Core can be used for: Wireless Voice and Data, Wireless PBX, DECT Systems, Multiple Handset Cordless Telephones, Portable Computing, Wireless Local Loop, Wireless LAN, Wireless Home Networking, Personal Wireless Communications, Home Automation, Security Systems and many other voice and/or data communication products.
Another new patent pending technology implemented in the FHSS Cores is direct handset-to-handset communications without the presence of a base station. This feature allows the use of the handsets as personal radios away from the base station. This provides a solution allowing the use of cordless telephone handsets as personal radios. In this way it will provide the functionality of Family Radio Service (FRS) type products offering similar range with the added value of being a cordless telephone handset. Additionally, this new technology allows for cellular telephone extensions with multiple handsets for groups to enjoy full duplex multiple unit communications and send or receive cellular calls on the same unit.

The Business Model
The FHSS Core packages, offered by Voyager, contain a gate-level Verilog/VHDL code, timing information, User Manual, Application Notes, Theory of Operation, designer implementation documentation, and a comprehensive test bench. The cores will also be available in Hard-IP form, in 0.25u and 0.18u processes in November 1999.
The new alliance offers digital integration services for the purpose of integrating the cores in Systems on Chip (SoC) products. SmartSand is an experienced SoC integrator and has integrated multiple SoC designs for its clients.
Voyager also offers system and board level design services to provide for complete product development for customers using the core and SoC in a product. These design services encompass nine years of experience in this field and include schematic design, PCB layout, component selection, Design for Manufacturability (DFM), and FCC compliance services. Voyager's design experience is "Product Proven".
The new alliance will offer complete SoC and Product design solutions to its customers, including all services from IP licensing, SoC integration, and complete product design. This is the most comprehensive offer made by an IP provider.

About Voyager Technologies, Inc.
Voyager Technologies, Inc. is a leader in Spread Spectrum design and owns some of the first Spread Spectrum Patents. Voyager was founded in 1990, and its headquarters are based in Morgan Hill, California. The company's major business includes Spread Spectrum design services, system design, PCB design, ASIC design, and technology licensing. For more information, please visit the company's web site at www.digitalrf.com. Voyager is a member of the VSI Alliance and RAPID organizations.

About SmartSand, Inc.
SmartSand, Inc. was formed in 1994 to assist other companies in the architecture, design and implementation of language-based ASICs, FPGAs and digital systems. Since the company's founding in 1994, SmartSand has successfully completed over 30 projects for its diverse customer base. By leveraging the customer's area of specialty with SmartSand's ASIC implementation expertise, SmartSand customers can maintain focus on developing technologies while being assured that SmartSand is staying abreast of the latest EDA and ASIC trends. SmartSand's headquarters are in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, please visit the company's web site at www.smartsand.com.

Contact information:

Yoram Solomon
Vice President, Marketing
Voyager Technologies, Inc.
605 Tennant Ave., Suite C
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Tel: (408) 778 7335 x11
Fax: (408) 779 5701
E-mail: yoram@digitalrf.com
John Simmons
Vice President, Business Development
SmartSand, Inc., an Alliance Partner of Voyager Technologies, Inc.
1095 E. Duane Ave., Suite 205
Sunnyvale, CA 94086-2605
Tel: (408) 738 8874 x112
Fax: (408) 738 8876
E-mail: john@digitalrf.com

####
This press release contains information about a new product. Specifications and information are subject to change without prior notice. Voyager Technologies, Inc. recognizes that all the Trademarks and Tradenames used in this document are the property of the appropriate organizations.