Voice Interface Chipset targets worldwide DSL deployment.

Press Release Summary:



Using integrated and modularized approach, VE890 series enables seamless integration of DSL gateway with PSTN and VoIP services. It conforms to worldwide standards for telephony interfaces (FXS and FXO), whether connecting over IP or looping back to existing PSTN. In addition to VeriVoice(TM) Auditor line testing support, chipset incorporates foreign exchange office (FXO) functionality with Direct Access Arrangement featuring common noise rejection, RF immunity, and impedance-matching.



Original Press Release:



Zarlink Launches Voice Chipset Targeting the Rising Worldwide Deployment of DSL Networks



Zarlink Launches Voice Chipset Targeting the Rising Worldwide Deployment of DSL Networks

o VE890 series, low power, high performance voice interface chipsets target the growing international DSL Integrated Access Device (IAD) market, allowing Zarlink to support all markets and applications for VoIP deployment

Ottawa, Canada, May 28, 2008 -- Zarlink Semiconductor Inc. (NYSE/TSX:ZL) today launched its newest family of voice interface solutions, the VE890 series, optimized for the international digital subscriber line (DSL) market. With market reports showing a recent steep upward trend in DSL deployments throughout Europe, this latest voice solution allows Zarlink to take an even larger role in the worldwide deployment of Voice-over-Internet (VoIP) telephony.

"We're seeing a fundamental shift from fixed telephone access lines to bundled voice, video and internet services over DSL and other broadband access networks," said Mark Showalter, directing analyst for broadband networks at Infonetics Research, an international market research firm specializing in the communications industry. "As a result, the DSL IAD market more than doubled from below five million units shipped in 2005 to almost 12 million in 2007, with the EMEA market approaching 80 percent of these shipments. All the major incumbent operators in EMEA, including BT, France Telecom, and Deutsche Telecom, are deploying DSL."

"Incumbent DSL operators often offer VoIP as a second line to augment the customer's traditional phone service," said Rick Bye, senior segment marketing manager for Zarlink. "The VE890 enables seamless integration of the DSL gateway with the public switched telephone network and VoIP services. With the new Zarlink DSL-optimized chipsets we can offer customers a single source for a complete portfolio of voice interface solutions for all VoIP applications."

The new Zarlink VE890 chipsets provide customers an integrated and modularized approach that meets the needs of VoIP service providers worldwide. Whether connecting over the Internet Protocol or looping back to the existing public switched telephone network (PSTN), the VE890 conforms to worldwide standards for telephony interfaces (FXS and FXO).

"We have been successfully using Zarlink's Legerity voice product line in our DSL IADs for several years," said Paulo Stecca, senior vice president of Telsey S.p.A., a leading supplier of broadband access equipment, based in Treviso, Italy. "The introduction of the new VE890 product family, with its FXO capability, allows us to immediately support new requirements coming from some of our European customers."

Based on the Zarlink VE880 low-power high performance foreign exchange station (FXS) architecture, the VE890 provides full worldwide programmability with the lowest power consumption in the industry, half that of the competition. In addition, this latest product series offers support for VeriVoice(TM) Auditor line testing. The new foreign exchange office (FXO) functionality of the VE890 includes a Direct Access Arrangement (DAA) with market leading common noise rejection and radio frequency (RF) immunity, and a unique impedance-matching capability that eliminates echo to improve voice quality. The VE890 solutions are offered in a common board design kit requiring the fewest number of external components to minimize both component and development costs.

Availability and Additional Information
The VE890 chipset devices, reference designs and development platforms are now available and in production. For more information on Zarlink's Legerity product line, please visit http://legerity.com/.

About Zarlink Semiconductor
For over 30 years, Zarlink Semiconductor has delivered semiconductor solutions that drive the capabilities of voice, enterprise, broadband and wireless communications. The Company's success is built on its technology strengths including voice and data networks, optoelectronics and ultra low-power communications. For more information, visit www.zarlink.com/.

Shareholders and other individuals wishing to receive, free of charge, copies of the reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Regulatory Authorities, should visit the Company's web site at www.zarlink.com/ or contact Investor Relations.

Zarlink and the Zarlink Semiconductor logo are trademarks of Zarlink Semiconductor Inc.

For further information:
Ed Goffin
Media Relations
613 270-7112
edward.goffin@zarlink.com

Mike McGinn
Investor Relations
613 270-7210
mike.mcginn@zarlink.com

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