Agere Systems and Ubicom Collaborate on Multimode Wi-Fi Reference Designs with Routing Speeds Up to Three Times Faster Than Competing Solutions

Innovative chip and software designs enable high-performance 802.11a/b/g router, access point and network peripheral products

MArch 8, 2004 -- ALLENTOWN, Pa. and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- Agere Systems (NYSE: AGR.A, AGR.B) and Ubicom™ Inc., a leading supplier of wireless network processor and software platforms, today announced a collaboration to develop high-performance access points, routers and network peripherals for 802.11a/b/g networks. These designs benefit from exceptional hardware and software integration, delivering high-speed performance using compact, low-cost Wi-Fi solutions for both enterprise and residential applications.

Combining Agere's WaveLAN™ multimode chip set and Ubicom's IP3023™ wireless network processor and software, these Wi-Fi solutions leverage optimized architectures to provide up to three times the routing speed of competing solutions. Agere and Ubicom will be showing these reference designs at the CeBIT 2004 trade show, which will be held March 18-24 in Hannover, Germany.

Agere's WaveLAN multimode chip set delivers superior range and throughput, coupled with the industry's most competitive bill of materials. Ubicom's innovative processor platform integrates memory on-chip to improve packet processing speeds, and their architecture greatly reduces die area and external memory requirements.

"Both Agere and Ubicom are focused on meeting the critical needs of Wi-Fi infrastructure developers - providing seamless, reliable connectivity for wireless users at competitive prices," said Stan Swearingen, vice president of Agere's Computing Connectivity division. "Access points and routers that can support 802.11a, b and g networking using multimode solutions will deliver the best user experience by transparently connecting consumer devices regardless of what standard they use."

"Ubicom's processors are tailored to maximize the radio performance in access points and routers while also bringing a unique set of advanced features for security, usability and real-time performance," said Glenn Schuster, vice president of marketing at Ubicom. "No other processor can match Ubicom's solution for delivering an optimized wireless network architecture as well as the high level of hardware and software integration required to develop cost-effective access points, routers and network peripherals."

Multimode chip set performance

Agere's high-performance multimode solution solves the problem of seamless connectivity in a world of multiple wireless network standards, through dynamic selection of a, b or g depending on the system capabilities, channel loads and the type of information transmitted. Capitalizing on a wireless architecture design that includes a single-chip, dual-band radio implementation for OFDM-based 11a and 11g, Agere's WaveLAN multimode chip set brings significant cost efficiencies through reduced bill of materials and small die size. The radio is coupled with a multimode media access controller (MAC), a multimode baseband processor and a dual-band power amplifier to form a fully interoperable, single platform for 802.11a/b/g solutions.

Wireless network processor integration and software benefits

Ubicom's industry-leading price performance is enabled by a patent-pending architecture designed for real-time tasks and low latency. The IP3023 wireless network processor features an interrupt response time of less than five clock cycles in typical applications, while MIPS- and ARM-based system-on-a-chip (SoC) solutions running the Linux® operating system require thousands of clock cycles to respond to an interruption. Additionally, the IP3023 and Ubicom's ipOS™ network operating system can process packets with half the latency of typical solutions, dramatically improving response times for games, voice and other interactive applications. As a result, the IP3023 can support multiple clients and functions without suffering the performance degradation that occurs with other platforms. Sample quantities of these new multimode reference designs are expected to be available in the second calendar quarter of 2004, with volume production beginning in the second half of 2004.

Demonstrations at CeBIT 2004

These high-performance reference designs for 802.11a/b/g networks will be on display at Agere's CeBIT booth (Hall 13, Stand D37, Booths C7-9) from March 18-24.

About Agere Systems

Agere Systems is a premier provider of advanced integrated circuit solutions for high-density storage, wireless data and multiservice networking applications. The company is the market leader in providing chips for desktop, mobile and consumer electronics hard disk drives. Agere's wireless data portfolio includes industry-leading solutions for data-capable cellular phones, as well as Wi-Fi/802.11 solutions for wireless LANs and computing applications. Agere also provides custom and standard networking solutions to move information across wired, wireless and enterprise networks. Agere's customers include the leading PC manufacturers, wireless terminal providers, network equipment suppliers and hard disk drive providers. More information about Agere Systems is available from its web site at www.agere.com.

About Ubicom Inc.

Ubicom Inc. is making ubiquitous communications a reality, through wireless network processor and software platforms that enable all electronic devices to be connected to each other - securely, cost-effectively and transparently. With headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., Ubicom also has offices in Belgium, Taiwan and Hong Kong. For more information, visit www.ubicom.com.

Agere is a registered trademark and WaveLAN, Agere Systems and the Agere Systems logo are trademarks of Agere Systems Inc.
Ubicom, IP3023 and ipOS are trademarks of Ubicom Inc.
Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on information available to Agere as of the date hereof. Agere's actual results could differ materially from the results stated or implied by such forward-looking statements due to a number of risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, keeping pace with technological change, dependence on new product development, price and product competition, availability of manufacturing capacity, the impact of any global or regional health epidemic, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome, customer demand for our products and services, general industry and market conditions, and reliance on major customers and suppliers. For a further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, and our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended December 31, 2003. Agere disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.