Agere Systems (NYSE: AGR) announced that Belkin Corporation, the global leader in connectivity solutions, is using the Agere ET1011 Gigabit Ethernet chip in its Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 adapter cards. Measuring approximately the length of a business card, these adapters plug into desktop and notebook computers, as well as other end user gadgets used in corporate and home offices, to boost their data speeds. Belkin plans to start shipping its USB adapters this month.
“Agere’s stellar customer support heavily influenced our decision to move forward with Agere’s single-chip solution,” said Mike Chen, director of product management - networking with Belkin. “Three other key factors were Agere’s industry-longest cable distance error free performance, extremely low power, low bill of material (BOM) and extensive digital technology expertise.”
Belkin will use Agere’s ET1011 PHY chip in its USB 2.0 Gigabit Ethernet adapter card. This card boosts data speeds up to 300 megabits per second for computer and other consumer products. This is three times faster than 10/100 Megabit per second Fast Ethernet technology available today. Tripling the speed enables faster file transfers and multimedia downloads via a USB2.0 port.
Based on its patented TruePHY™ Gigabit Ethernet technology and cable diagnostic software, Agere’s ET1011 makes possible, error-free cabling performance at 140 meters while consuming a very low 750 milliwatts of power in typical applications. This power consumption is approximately 15 percent lower power than the nearest competing chip.
Agere offers the chip in two Multi-Layer Carrier Chip package sizes. Presently, Agere offers 84 and 68 pin versions. The chip that houses 68 pins provides nearly 20 percent fewer than the nearest competing chip. The dongle application uses the low cost 68pin version.
The 68-pin version supports a Reduced Gigabit Media Independent Inter¬face (RGMII), while the 84-pin version, in addition to RGMII also supports GMII, Ten Bit Interface (TBI) and Reduced Ten Bit Interface. The chip’s dimensions are 10 mm x 10 mm x 1 mm, which is smaller than a dime.
“Working with a global leader in connectivity solutions meshes with Agere’s sharpening focus to offer complete and economical hardware and software silicon solutions to our customers,” said Ngozi Bell, director of marketing for the Enterprise and Networking Division of Agere Systems. “Working with top-notch companies such as Belkin is helping to take Agere’s Gigabit Ethernet chip business to a higher and broader level of penetration throughout enterprise and small/home office applications.”
This announcement builds on Agere’s recent momentum of engaging customers to select its portfolio of Gigabit Ethernet chips. During the past two months, the com¬pany has announced that SMC and Accton also are using Agere Gigabit Ethernet chips. Other equipment manufacturers also have chosen Agere’s Gigabit Ethernet chips during this same time span, although have yet to be publicly announced.
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.
Belkin Corporation, the global leader in connectivity solutions, offers a range of innovations for the computer, electronics, and mobile consumer. With a diverse and far-reaching product mix consisting of home and enterprise networking, VoIP hardware, audio video solutions, KVM (keyboard/video/mouse) and peripheral sharing, power protection and cabling, as well as USB and FireWire® devices, Belkin extends its reach also to Bluetooth®, cellular, PDA, iPod®, and other solutions for mobile computing. Belkin products are available through www.belkin.com as well as through a network of major distributors, resellers, and superstores.