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Atheros
XSPAN PC Solutions Are First to Achieve Cisco Compatible
Extensions Version 5 Certification
World’s Most
Widely Adopted 802.11n Wi-Fi Technology Supports Cisco’s
Enterprise Security and Management Features
SANTA
CLARA, Calif., August 11, 2008 — Atheros
Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHR), a leading developer
of advanced semiconductor system solutions for wireless
and wired communications, today announced that its
XSPAN® AR9280 and AR9281, the industry’s first shipping,
single-chip 802.11n solutions for the PC market, are
also the first wireless LAN (WLAN) chipsets to be
certified for the new Cisco Compatible Extensions
Program Version 5 (CCX V5). XSPAN is the industry’s most
widely adopted 802.11n technology, and is contained in a
breadth of products worldwide, including PCs for the
enterprise and consumer markets, retail, enterprise and
carrier networking equipment, and consumer electronics
devices.
Several PC OEMs are currently
launching notebook platforms that feature Atheros’
popular dual-band AR9280 or single-band AR9281 PCI
Express (PCIe) designs to bring industry-leading 802.11n
performance, and power and cost efficiencies to their
customers. With this latest Cisco Compatibility
Extensions certification, PC OEMs using Atheros’ XSPAN
can assure enterprise customers of platform
interoperability with Cisco’s latest wireless
infrastructure.
Cisco’s Compatible Extensions
Program Version 5 enables state-of-the-art
enterprise-class security, management and
troubleshooting capabilities for a wide array of mobile
devices. This newest version of Cisco Compatible
Extensions not only protects data frames – as addressed
by the 802.11i standard – but also secures management
frames with a layer of authentication and encryption to
prevent network Denial of Service attacks through the
WLAN. The Management Frame Protection provides
additional enhancements to wireless security, and
instantly detects and reports attacks to Cisco’s
Wireless Control System (WCS) to facilitate timely and
accurate network management. The specification also
significantly expands troubleshooting capabilities by
providing automated diagnostic tests and reporting to
the network management system for performance
evaluation, application guarantees and problem solving.
“Cisco Compatible Extensions
Version 5 helps ensure optimum performance and
interoperability with Cisco’s Unified Wireless Network
and Mobility Services,” said Christophe Servais, Cisco’s
marketing manager of mobility solutions. “Atheros
provides a combination of industry-leading 802.11n
performance with state-of-the-art Compatible Extensions
interoperability to PC customers who wish to enhance the
quality of wireless computing, voice, location and other
enterprise applications and services.”
Atheros XSPAN PCIe solutions
deliver high bandwidth 802.11n performance for
enterprise notebooks of up to 300 Mbps physical data
rates per band. The Atheros solutions certified as Cisco
Compatible Extensions support important industry
standards including WMM® (Wi-Fi Multimedia™), and Wi-Fi
Protected Set-Up™ via Atheros’ JumpStart for Wireless™,
the company’s industry standardized simple network
configuration software.
“All of Atheros’ client solutions
are capable of supporting Cisco Compatible Extensions to
enable a better wireless user and IT management
experience,” said Todd Antes, vice president of wireless
networking and computing for Atheros. “Today, enterprise
network administrators are faced with the challenge of
intelligently managing an increasing number and variety
of devices connected to the wireless LAN ─ from notebook
PCs to MIDs to handsets. Cisco Compatible Extensions
Version 5 provides the latest tools to help simplify
wireless LAN management and provide enterprise-class,
bullet-proof security.”
For more information about Cisco’s
Compatible Extensions Program, please visit
http://www.cisco.com/web/partners/pr46/pr147/partners_pgm_concept_home.html
About
Atheros Communications, Inc.
Atheros Communications is a leading
developer of semiconductor system solutions for wireless
and wired communications products. Atheros combines its
wireless and networking systems expertise with
high-performance radio frequency (RF), mixed signal and
digital semiconductor design skills to provide highly
integrated chipsets that are manufactured on low-cost,
standard complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS)
processes. Atheros technology is used by a broad base of
leading customers, including personal computer,
networking equipment and consumer device manufacturers.
For more information, please visit
http://www.atheros.com
or send email to
info@atheros.com.
###
Atheros, the Atheros
logo, XSPAN and JumpStart for Wireless are trademarks of
Atheros Communications, Inc. All other trademarks
mentioned in this document are the sole property of
their respective owners.
Note on Forward
Looking Statements
Except for the
historical information contained herein, the matters set
forth in this press release, including the features,
benefits and performance of Atheros’ and Cisco’s
products, are forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to differ materially, including, but not limited to,
difficulties in the development of new and enhanced
products, general economic conditions, the effects of
competition and technological change, and the risks
detailed in Atheros' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2007 and its Quarterly Reports
on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2008 and
June 30, 2008, as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, and in other reports filed with the SEC by
Atheros from time to time. These forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date hereof. Atheros
disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking
statements.
Dakota Lee, 408-720-5597, dakota@atheros.com, or
Dan Muñoz, A&R Edelman for
Atheros, 650-762-2918,
dmunoz@ar-edelman.com
For
analyst inquires contact: Deborah Stapleton of Stapleton Communications, Inc.,
+1-650-470-0200,
deb@stapleton.com |
