KAWASAKI, Japan and SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- NEC
Electronics Corporation today announced that the company's uPD720170
Wireless USB host controller for PCI interfaces and uPD720180 Wireless USB
device wire adapter (DWA) are among the first products to be certified by
the USB Implementers Forum, Inc. (USB-IF). NEC Electronics'
USB-IF-certified host controller and DWA make it easy and economical for
designers to implement ultra wideband (UWB) wireless technology between USB
peripherals and computers or consumer electronics products via a quick
relay of data chunks based on Certified Wireless USB technology.
    "NEC Electronics is at the forefront of delivering innovative solutions
that will help to speed the adoption of the Certified Wireless USB
specification, and we are continuing our commitment to the standard by
having some of the first products to be fully certified," said Kunio Mori,
general manager, Peripheral Systems Division, NEC Electronics. "These
certified chips allow users to leverage the investment they have made in
their current USB peripherals to make a seamless transition to the wireless
standard."
    "NEC Electronics' commitment to the Certified Wireless USB
specification is a compliment to the importance of the USB-IF's Compliance,
Certification and Logo Program," said Jeff Ravencraft, USB-IF president.
"We are pleased and excited to have NEC Electronics' Wireless USB host
controller and DWA among the first products in the industry to become
certified."
    NEC Electronics' uPD720170 host controller supports all eight data
transfer rates -- from 53.3 up to 480 megabits per second (Mbps). The
uPD720180 DWA chip provides the functionality required by the Certified
Wireless USB standard and also enables interoperability with current USB
devices. Designers can easily implement a complete system based on
Certified Wireless USB technology by combining the two NEC Electronics
chips.
    Capabilities of Certified Wireless USB
    Certified Wireless USB technology from the USB-IF is an extension to
the current USB 2.0 standard that has been hailed as the next-generation
interface for computers and multimedia consumer electronics. Certified
Wireless USB technology delivers data transfer rates up to 480 Mbps,
comparable to wired USB 2.0 connections, with a maximum wireless
communications range of up to 10 meters. Unwiring the cable connection
frees users from having to make cumbersome and unsightly wired connections
to enjoy high-speed data access and allows users to connect their devices
freely wherever they want to use them. Certified Wireless USB technology
will make it possible to expand the range of applications for computers and
digital entertainment devices and encourage the discovery of new ways to
enjoy digital media.
    NEC Electronics has played a central role in making the current USB 2.0
standard one of the most successful interfaces in the history of personal
computing. Along with Intel Corporation and other industry leaders, NEC
Electronics is a core member of the USB-IF, which developed and supports
the USB specification. Since launching volume production of USB 2.0 devices
in 2000, NEC Electronics has shipped an industry-leading 100 million-plus
units.
    Pricing and Availability
    Samples of NEC Electronics' uPD720170 and uPD720180 Wireless USB
devices are available now starting at $20 each in sample quantities.
(Pricing and availability are subject to change.)
    More information about the Wireless USB devices and other devices in
NEC Electronics' USB product line-up can be found at
http://www.necel.com/cwusb/en/index.html .
    About NEC Electronics
    NEC Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723) specializes in semiconductor
products encompassing advanced technology solutions for the high-end
computing and broadband networking markets, system solutions for the mobile
handset, PC peripherals, automotive and digital consumer markets, and
platform solutions for a wide range of customer applications. NEC
Electronics Corporation has 25 subsidiaries worldwide including NEC
Electronics America, Inc. (http://www.am.necel.com) and NEC Electronics (Europe)
GmbH (http://www.eu.necel.com). For additional information about NEC Electronics
worldwide, visit http://www.necel.com.
    NOTE: NEC Electronics is either a registered trademark or trademark of
NEC Electronics Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
All other registered trademarks or trademarks are property of their
respective owners.

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