Release Details

AUSTIN, Texas, Sep 18, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Silicon Laboratories Inc. (Nasdaq:SLAB), a leader in high-performance, analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs, today announced the Aero® IIed single-chip EDGE transceiver with a digital interface. The Aero IIed is fully compliant with the 2.5G DigRF specification version 1.12 and is pre-validated with leading DigRF baseband implementations. This latest addition to the patented, proven Aero family provides the industry's smallest, most integrated and easiest to design and manufacture DigRF transceiver for GSM/GPRS/EDGE handsets, smart phones and data modems.

The Aero IIed transceiver is designed in a standard 0.13-micron CMOS process and available in a tiny 6 x 7 mm package. A complete quad-band Aero IIed GSM/GPRS/EDGE radio can be implemented with only 18 components in less than 190 mm squared of PCB area.

Silicon Laboratories' Aero IIed transceiver integrates the RF transceiver and analog baseband (ABB) circuitry in a small monolithic mixed-signal IC pre-validated with leading DigRF basebands to ensure full compatibility and to simplify customer design-in. The ABB functionality integrated into the Aero IIed transceiver consists of transmit modulators, transmit and ramp DACs, front end module control, and a precise radio event controller. The Aero IIed transceiver also includes a proven digitally-controlled crystal oscillator (DCXO) and an integrated low drop out voltage regulator for direct battery connection, both of which significantly decrease bill of materials costs.

This high level of integration results in a 40 percent or greater PCB area reduction when compared with alternative digital interface transceiver solutions. This not only reduces cost for the EDGE terminal manufacturer, but frees up board space to enable smaller form-factor and more feature-rich handset designs.

Along with its unique architecture, the Aero IIed transceiver also ensures the great performance customers have grown to expect from the Aero transceiver family. The Aero IIed uses digital low-IF receiver technology to provide the industry's best receive sensitivity, which results in fewer dropped calls for consumers. In contrast with polar architecture solutions, Silicon Laboratories' proven dual-transmit linear architecture enables superior GSM/GPRS/EDGE performance and manufacturability along with the ability for customers to enjoy the flexibility and cost savings from multi-sourcing of all radio components. Silicon Laboratories' EDGE solutions are also designed to eliminate complex baseband calibrations required by competing transceiver solutions and to minimize system software changes.

"Cellular operators are beginning to aggressively roll out EDGE service for subscribers," said Dan Rabinovitsj, vice president of Silicon Laboratories. "The Aero IIed transceiver is built upon Silicon Laboratories' proven Aero family technology. The Aero IIed continues in the Silicon Laboratories tradition of helping manufacturers improve handset performance while reducing costs and improving manufacturability."

Pricing and Availability

The Aero IIed transceiver is available in a standard 6 x 7 mm 44-pin LGA package. Pricing begins at $5.85 in quantities of 10,000. The Aero IIed transceiver is sampling now, and an evaluation board is available for $350.

Silicon Laboratories Inc.

Silicon Laboratories Inc. is a leading designer of high-performance, analog-intensive mixed-signal integrated circuits (ICs) for a broad range of applications. Silicon Laboratories' diverse portfolio of highly integrated, patented solutions is developed by a world-class engineering team with decades of cumulative expertise in cutting-edge mixed-signal design. The company has design, engineering, marketing, sales and applications offices throughout North America, Europe and Asia. For more information about Silicon Laboratories please visit www.silabs.com.

Cautionary Language

This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on Silicon Laboratories' current expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of factors that could impact Silicon Laboratories' financial results and cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, please refer to Silicon Laboratories' filings with the SEC. Silicon Laboratories disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Note to editors: Silicon Laboratories, Aero and the Silicon Laboratories logo are trademarks of Silicon Laboratories Inc. All other product names noted herein may be trademarks of their respective holders.

SOURCE: Silicon Laboratories Inc.

Silicon Laboratories Inc., Austin
Kirstan Ryan, 512-532-5349
kirstan.ryan@silabs.com