Agere Systems Gigabit Ethernet Chip Achieves Interoperability with ATI Radeon(R) Xpress Platform Technology, Boosting PC Throughput, Extending Battery Life


ALLENTOWN, Pa., Dec. 8 - The Agere Systems (NYSE: AGR) ET1310 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet personal computer (PC) chip achieved interoperability with the ATI Technologies, Inc., (NASDAQ:ATYT) Radeon(R) Xpress chipset family.

The achievement means PC manufacturers who select the ATI and Agere chips for use on their same circuit boards can increase Gigabit Ethernet throughput and reduce power consumption by approximately 20 percent compared with existing technologies, thereby extending battery life and accelerating their product deliveries.

Agere is working with ATI -- one of the world's leading providers of graphics processors and chipset platform technology -- to build their respective sales channels of these chips together.

"Agere's chip delivers stable, consistent, and good benchmark throughput results," said Reuven Soraya, director of chipset platform technology with ATI. "Furthermore, Agere's rich and longstanding expertise in networking and system chips was key to making this interoperability with ATI's Radeon Xpress chipsets possible. Because of this compatibility between Radeon Xpress and Agere's chip, PC users can rapidly benefit from Gigabit Ethernet speeds, which are 10 times faster than the technology typically used today."

Agere's chip is the engine that handles data transport through computers at Gigabit per second Ethernet speeds. The device has been in high-volume production since March 2005.

"The PC market can finally benefit from higher throughput and lower-power-consumption because of this Agere Gigabit Ethernet chip that interoperates with a high-performing graphics processor chip," said Kamran Azadet, director of architecture with the Enterprise and Networking Division of Agere Systems. "The compatibility of this Agere technology with ATI's Radeon Xpress platform technology accelerates the pace at which PC users reap the numerous benefits of Gigabit Ethernet and graphics technology."

For more information, customers may visit Agere's Web site at www.agere.com/ or contact one of Agere's regional sales offices. Customers in the U.S. may also call the Agere Systems Customer Response Center at 1-800-372-2447. Customers in Canada may call 1-800-553-2448. Customers outside those countries may call 1-610-712-4323. Fax inquiries may be directed to 1-610-712-4106, or e-mail queries to doc-master@agere.com. Written inquiries should be sent to Agere Systems, Room 10A-301C, 1110 American Parkway NE, Lehigh Valley Central Campus, Allentown, PA, 18109, USA.

Agere Systems is a global leader in semiconductors for storage, wireless data, and public and enterprise networks. The company's chips and software power a broad range of computing and communications applications, from cell phones, PCs, PDAs, hard disk drives and gaming devices to the world's most sophisticated wireless and wireline networks. Agere's customers include top manufacturers of consumer electronics, communications and computing equipment. Agere's products connect people to information and entertainment at home, at work and on the road-enabling the connected lifestyle. More information about Agere Systems is available from its Web site at www.agere.com/ .

Agere, Agere Systems and the Agere Systems logo are registered trademarks of Agere Systems Inc.

Radeon is a registered trademark of ATI Technologies.

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