IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 23, 2000--

Intersil is biggest investor in this round of Silicon Wave financing

Intersil (Nasdaq:ISIL), the world's leading developer of silicon technology for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), today announced a strategic investment in San Diego-based Silicon Wave, Inc. Intersil will become the lead strategic investor in Silicon Wave's Series D financing. This announcement comes on the heels of Intersil's investment in Sybergen Networks (announced August 15) for the development of software for wireless networking systems.

Intersil's PRISM(R) Wireless Local Area Networking solutions are widely recognized as leading the industry in IEEE802.11-based systems marketed by such heavyweights as Cisco, Alcatel, Compaq, 3Com and many others. Silicon Wave designs RF systems-on-chip for next generation communications products that require small, low-power solutions and is considered a leader in providing highly-integrated radio components supporting Bluetooth wireless technology.

"Intersil and Silicon Wave provide complementary technologies for wireless zones including the home, office and public places," said Greg Williams, Intersil president and CEO. "Silicon Wave is fielding entire RF systems-on-chip for Bluetooth, the emerging specification for personal connectivity. Intersil's PRISM solution is aimed at full-featured wireless Ethernet applications under the IEEE's 802.11 standard. We expect these two standards to become the prevailing standards and we envision the development of a wide variety of information appliances that will use one of these two complementary technologies depending on the specific use of the device."

Bluetooth technology supports 1 megabit per second (Mbps) data rates in the 2.4 GHz band and communication at a range of up to 30 feet. Such operation is perfect for synchronizing web appliances, cell phones or other Internet browsing devices. Systems that comply with the IEEE's 802.11 standard can operate over 10 times faster (11 Mbps) and with about the same multiple for range (300 feet). Williams said, "Though each standard is different, we feel that each is perfect for its application and we think devices will not only proliferate around each standard, but become vital data connectivity tools just about everywhere people live, work or visit."

"Our goal for PRISM is to field complete solutions so that our customers can get to market quickly no matter whether they're addressing the enterprise, small office, home or consumer segments," added Williams. "Our acquisition of No Wires Needed and our strategic investment in Sybergen and now Silicon Wave are evidence of that commitment."

"Silicon Wave is pleased to have Intersil as the lead investor in this round of funding," said Dave Lyon, Chairman and CEO of Silicon Wave. "Intersil's focus on high data rate wireless markets has obvious synergies with our own strategies in wireless and broadband communications." Adoption of PRISM WLAN Technology

Since introducing the PRISM WLAN chip set in 1996, over fifty companies have incorporated PRISM chips in more than 100 product designs. In a May 2000 report, the Cahners In-Stat Group called Intersil "the dominant force in the WLAN chip set marketplace with their PRISM chipsets holding the majority of market share." PRISM technology is designed to comply with the IEEE's 802.11b global standard, and Intersil is a founding sponsor of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA), whose Wi-Fi(TM) brand is a mark of compatibility for 802.11b-based systems. PRISM chips are used in WLAN systems from industry-leading companies including Alcatel, Cisco, Nokia, Siemens, Compaq, 3Com, Dell, Nortel, Samsung, SpectraLink, Symbol Technologies and Zoom. About Silicon Wave

Based in San Diego, Silicon Wave designs and develops RF systems-on-chip for use in wireless and broadband communication systems and products. The company was founded in 1997 with a mission to be the leader in system-level RF ICs. Silicon Wave products include Odyssey solutions for Bluetooth wireless communications, and silicon tuners for cable modems and digital set-top boxes. The company was the first to deliver a single-chip Bluetooth radio and is an Associate Member of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). The company's web site is located at www.siliconwave.com. About Intersil

Irvine, California-based Intersil uses its semiconductor expertise to enable highly integrated voice, data and video communications. Intersil's integrated communications portfolio includes PRISM(R) Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) chip sets that enable mobile connectivity products for the home and office; analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits for broadband access to wireless and wired Wide Area Networks (WANs); and power management products that enable 24x7 reliability in network servers, next generation PCs and information appliances. For more information about Intersil, visit the company's Internet homepage at www.intersil.com.

This press release contains information relating to the growing demand for wireless products that are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based upon management's current expectations, estimates, beliefs, assumptions, and projections about our business and our industry. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will" and variations of these words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, our actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in the forward looking statements as a result of various risk factors. Important risk factors that may cause such material differences for Intersil in connection with the wireless market include, but are not limited to, the rate at which our present and future customers and end-users adopt Intersil's wireless technologies and products; the timing, rescheduling or cancellation of significant customer orders; the loss of a key customer; the qualification, availability and pricing of competing products and technologies and the resulting effects on sales and pricing of our products; silicon wafer pricing and the availability of foundry and assembly capacity and raw materials; intellectual property disputes; as well as other risk factors detailed from time to time in Intersil's filings with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and Intersil undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements.

PRISM is a registered trademark of Intersil Corporation.

Silicon Wave, the SiW product name prefix, Odyssey and the diamond logo design are trademarks of Silicon Wave, Inc. All other product, service and company names are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

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