NEC Electronics and Two Leading Companies in Ultra Wideband Partnership To Produce Certified Wireless USB Reference Designs

Design Enables Rapid Market Introduction of Certified Wireless USB from USB-IF

NEC Electronics Corporation today announced that two types of CardBus reference designs with prototyped board, based on Certified Wireless USB technology, will be available in the second quarter of 2006. The designs have been co-developed with two leading companies of WiMedia Alliance's ultra-wideband (UWB) radio technology. One is the US- based UAlereon Inc. and the other is Taiwan-based Realtek Semiconductor Corp.

Last December NEC Electronics Corporation announced the sample shipment of the world's first system LSI chip compatible with the new Certified Wireless USB interface standard. The µPD720170 host controller enables high-speed, wireless data transmission between personal computers, peripheral devices such as printers and external storage, and consumer electronics such as digital cameras. The device is designed to promote new levels of wireless connectivity, with data transfer rates as high as 480 megabits per second (Mbps) at a range of 3 meters, while eliminating the need for cumbersome wires.

The prototyped boards announced today facilitate development of Certified Wireless USB applications based on the µPD720170 host controller.

"A key factor for the successful launch of Certified Wireless USB technology is the performance of UWB radio portion in the system. " said Katsuhiko Nakazawa, General Manager of PC Peripheral Systems Division of NEC Electronics. " To collaborate with other companies reduces the burden of development for PCB layout of UWB radio portion. And it allows product manufacturers to ship their products based on Certified wireless USB into market as quick as possible."

"Since founding the WiMedia Alliance and being one of the first to work with the USB-IF on adapting to wireless technology, Alereon has been leading the charge to couple UWB with USB. We're excited by the introduction of a wireless USB cardbus for the laptop market," said Yung Hang, Alereon's VP of Sales for Asia. "And especially excited to be working with NEC Electronics, a true leader and visionary in this space, on a project that will bring wireless USB technology to fruition and bring consumers one step closer to a life without wires."

"We are pleased to announce this Partnership and reference design with NEC Electronics, whose leadership position in the worldwide wired USB market we expect will extend to wireless USB." Said Ran Yan, Senior Vice President, Wireless Communication Technologies at Realtek Semiconductor Corp. Realtek is committed to the early development of a truly mass market proliferation of Certified Wireless USB technology, and we believe this reference design and partnership with NEC Electronics marks an important stage in market maturity."

NEC Electronics is a leading proponent of the current USB 2.0 standard, and has played an important role in developing USB technologies and markets as a member of the USB Implementers Forum. Since launching volume production of USB 2.0 devices in 2000, NEC Electronics has shipped an industry-leading 100 million units. The company is committed to continuing its development of Certified Wireless USB technology to meet the emerging need for high-speed wireless data transfer, and anticipates that combined sales for its USB devices will reach 6 billion yen by fiscal year 2008.

About Certified Wireless USB
Certified Wireless USB is the new wireless extension to USB that combines the speed and security of wired technology with the ease-of-use of wireless technology. It utilizes the common WiMedia MB-OFDM Ultra-wideband (UWB) radio platform developed by the WiMedia Alliance, which offers high bandwidth with low power consumption and is designed to meet the physical size requirements of next-generation consumer electronic devices. Certified Wireless USB performance is designed to reach 480Mbps at 3 meters and 110Mbps at 10 meters.

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About Realtek
Realtek Semiconductor Corp(TSE: 2379). is one of the world's leading IC providers. It designs and develops a wide range of IC products for communications network, computer peripheral, and multimedia applications. The products include 10/100/1000M Ethernet Controllers, 10/100/1000M Ethernet Switch/Gateway Controllers, 10/100/1000M Ethernet PHY transceivers, Wireless LAN Controllers & AP/Router SoC, ADSL Chips, VoIP Solutions, AC'97/High Definition Audio Codecs, Motherboard Clock Generators, LCD Monitor Controllers, and LCD TV Controllers. With advanced design expertise in RF, analog and mixed signal circuits, and strong manufacturing and system knowledge, Realtek offers full-featured, high-performance, and competitive total solutions for customers. More information on Realtek can be found on the web: www.realtek.com.tw.

About Alereon, Inc.
Alereon, Inc. is a fabless semiconductor company providing complete solutions for Wireless USB and WiMedia ultrawideband (UWB) applications. A technology pioneer, Alereon was first to demonstrate a WiMedia PHY running at 480Mbps in October of 2004. Alereon's products promise to replace the complex tangle of wiring used to interconnect today's consumer electronics, computer peripheral, and mobile devices with high-bandwidth, low-power, low-cost wireless links. Further information is available on the company's website: http://www.alereon.com

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Information in the press releases, including product prices and specifications is current on the date of the press announcement, but is subject to change without prior notice.

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Information in the press releases, including product prices and specifications is current on the date of the press announcement, but is subject to change without prior notice.