NEC Electronics and Microsoft Announce Industry's First Demonstration of Microsoft Driver for Certified Wireless USB Host on NEC Electronics' Real-Chip Solution at WinHEC 2006


WinHEC, SEATTLE, May 23 /-- NEC Electronics America, Inc., a leading provider of advanced interface technologies, and Microsoft Corp. today announced the industry's first demonstration of Microsoft's driver for Certified Wireless Universal Serial Bus (USB) on NEC Electronics' dedicated real-chip solution, at the 2006 Microsoft Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC). The demonstration features Microsoft's Certified Wireless USB host controller driver for Microsoft® Windows® XP that incorporates NEC Electronics' host controller. The demonstration will showcase wireless connectivity for a mass storage-class device prototype and illustrate this process, including the enumeration, loading the Microsoft driver and viewing the contents of the device. As part of this demonstration, movie files stored in the device will be accessed and played on a PC using the wireless USB connection. The demonstration can be viewed at the NEC Electronics America booth #115.

"It is noteworthy for NEC Electronics America to show the Microsoft driver working on our platform," said Kugao Ouchi, general manager, digital consumer and connectivity strategic business unit, NEC Electronics America. "We have worked closely with Microsoft to integrate its Certified Wireless USB host controller driver into NEC Electronics' new Certified Wireless USB host controller. This demonstration serves as an illustration of Microsoft's and NEC Electronics America's commitment to the emerging Wireless USB market."

"As a member of the Wireless USB Promoter Group, NEC Electronics has worked with the Wireless USB community and is actively working to promote and expand adoption of the standard," said Fred Bhesania, Wireless USB Program Manager, Microsoft. "We are pleased to collaborate with NEC Electronics America on its demonstration of the latest Microsoft Certified Wireless USB host controller driver for Windows XP, and we look forward to working with NEC Electronics America."

NEC Electronics' Wireless USB Products

NEC Electronics is a leading supplier of USB solutions for worldwide customers and was the first company to introduce a USB 2.0 host controller, hub controller and device controller. With a USB 2.0 product line-up that includes ASSPs and ASICs, the company has shipped more than 80 million USB 2.0 products. NEC Electronics continues to drive the development of next- generation interface technology and is now working with the Wireless USB Promoter Group to standardize specifications for Wireless USB. The company offers a new host controller, (uPD720170), based on Certified Wireless USB Technology, that enables high-speed wireless transmission of data between personal computers (PCs) and PC peripherals such as printers, external storage equipment and digital cameras. The host controller will be used for mobile phones and other consumer-type electronic devices as Certified Wireless USB Technology is adopted in those markets. The company is also working with partners to develop a prototype high-speed Wireless USB product with ultra- wideband as the physical layer. More information about NEC Electronics America's products based on Certified Wireless USB technology can be found at http://www.am.necel.com/wusb.

About NEC Electronics America, Inc.

NEC Electronics America, Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, California, is a wholly owned subsidiary of NEC Electronics Corporation , a leading provider of semiconductor products encompassing advanced technology solutions for the broadband and communications markets; system solutions for the mobile, PC, automotive and digital consumer markets; and multi-market solutions for a wide range of customer applications. NEC Electronics America offers a local manufacturing facility in Roseville, California, and the global manufacturing capabilities of its parent company. NEC Electronics America is also the marketing and sales channel in the Americas for industrial-type active-matrix LCD modules from NEC Technologies, Ltd., a global leader in innovative display technologies. More information about NEC Electronics America's products can be found at http://www.am.necel.com/.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Source: NEC Electronics America, Inc.

CONTACT: Klaudeen Shemirani of NEC Electronics America, Inc.,
+1-408-588-5402 or klaudeen.shemirani@am.necel.com; Jessica Kerr of
+Porter
Novelli, +1-408-369-4637 or jessica.kerr@porternovelli.com, for NEC Electronics America; Rapid Response Team, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide for Microsoft, +1-503-443-7070 or rrt@waggeneredstrom.com; or Zach Little of Microsoft Corporation, +1-425-705-9631 or zach.little@microsoft.com

Web site: http://www.necel.com/

All Topics