Tokyo, Japan March 14, 2001 Hitachi, Ltd.
(TSE:6501) and Parthus Technologies plc (Nasdaq: PRTH, LSE: PRH),
today announced that they will cooperate on the development of System-on-chip
products using Parthus' BlueStream Bluetooth platform. The formal
launch of the agreement between the two companies was witnessed in
Tokyo by Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister, Mary Harney, in the presence
of Hitachi's System LSI Business Division Deputy General Manager,
Kazuo Minorikawa, and Parthus' Chief Executive Officer, Brian Long.
As part of the cooperation agreement, Hitachi has licensed the Parthus
BlueStream baseband and protocol stack, which will be combined with
its own BiCMOS radio design using a Parthus BlueStream radio interface.
This solution ensures an accelerated time-to-market for Hitachi's
Bluetooth product range, while ensuring maximum compatibility with
its SuperH microprocessor technology.
Bluetooth is rapidly becoming the de facto standard for wireless communication
between a range of electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops,
PCs, printers and handheld devices. By eliminating the need for cables
between inter-connecting devices, individuals can share voice and
data using fast and secure local wireless connections. By 2005, Cahners
In-Stat forecasts that Bluetooth technology will be used in almost
1.4 billion devices, ranging from mobile phones and desktop computers
to digital cameras and automobiles.
Bluetooth is driving the future of seamless wireless connectivity,
and Parthus' BlueStream offers us an industry-leading technology platform
on which to base our offerings, said Kazuo Minorikawa, Deputy
General Manager, System LSI Business Division, Semiconductor &
Integrated Circuits of Hitachi. The flexibility of the Parthus
platform allows us to combine our BiCMOS radio design with the Parthus
baseband and protocol stacks on the Hitachi SuperH architecture to
deliver a truly world-class Bluetooth solution.
Hitachi's microprocessor and radio technology is helping smooth
the convergence of the Internet and wireless devices, said Brian
Long, Chief Executive Officer of Parthus Technologies. While
we can connect people across continents, connecting devices in the
same office or house has proven extremely difficult without cumbersome
wires. By combining our respective Bluetooth technologies we are in
a position to provide wireless convenience in any location.
Notes:
About BlueStream
The Parthus BlueStream Platform delivers the complete Bluetooth Platform
comprising:
|
Radio ICs (SiGe, CMOS and mult-mode
RF) |
|
RF-to-DSP Interface IP |
|
Lower Link Controller IP |
|
Software Protocol Stack |
|
Optional Audio Codec |
* Hitachi licenses Lower Link Controller IP and Software
Protocol Stack.
Baseband Controller IP
The BlueStream 1000 baseband controller IP solution provides the radio
and lower link controller for the Bluetooth specification. The Parthus
Platform leads the industry in form factor, MIPS requirements and software
ROM size. The Parthus BB is targeted at 0.18 micron meter CMOS. The
proposed Parthus partitioning is a digital 1Mbps interface with low-voltage
signaling.
Protocol Software Architecture & Deliverables
The Parthus protocol stack software has been written in ANSI C using
object oriented techniques, and has been architected to be modular
and easily extended. The software can support both L2CAP variants,
with L2CAP either residing on a host above the HCI or below the HCI
in a deeply embedded ASIC implementation. The stack extends all the
way to the RFCOMM and SDP layer and comes with a fully documented
API for applications developers. Again, with a baseband protocol stack
requiring less than 40kbyte, the solution is optimized for integration.
SuperH is a trademark of Hitachi, Ltd.
Bluetooth is a trademark owned by its proprietor and licensed to Hitachi
Ltd. and Parthus Technologies.
About Hitachi
Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's
leading global electronics companies, with fiscal 1999 (ended March
31, 2000) consolidated sales of 8,001 billion yen ($75.5 billion*).
The company manufactures and markets a wide range of products, including
computers, semiconductors, consumer products and power and industrial
equipment. For more information on Hitachi, Ltd., please visit Hitachi's
web site at http://global.hitachi.com/
Hitachi's semiconductor business web site/home page address: http://global.hitachi.com/Sicd/index.htm
*At an exchange rate of 106 yen to the dollar.
About Parthus Technologies plc
Parthus Technologies plc is one of the world's leading providers
of complete platform level
Intellectual property (IP) solutions targeting the mobile Internet market.
Incorporating radio, baseband and software design solutions, Parthus'
unrivalled range of mobile Internet platforms are used by the world's
largest microprocessor companies and electronics manufacturers in MP3,
GPS, GPRS, GSM, 3G and Bluetooth applications. Parthus broad range of
platforms power a diverse range of mobile Internet devices, such as
cellular handsets, Smartphones, automobiles, personal audio players
and PDAs. The company has leveraged seven years' of IP development experience
to deploy platforms that lead the industry in terms of ultra-high processing
power and low power consumption, and deliver significant cost and time-to-market
advantages to its customers. Parthus is headquartered in Dublin with
offices in seven countries and is listed on the London Stock Exchange
(LSE: PRH) and NASDAQ (Nasdaq: PRTH). More information on Parthus is
available at http://www.parthus.com.
Safe Harbor Statement:
This document may contain forward looking statements within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Any forward looking statements in this document are subject
to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those stated. Any statements that are not statements
of historical fact (including, without limitation, statements to the
effect that the company or its management believes, expects,
anticipates, plans and similar expressions)
should be considered forward-looking statements. Important factors that
could cause actual results to differ from those indicated by such forward-looking
statements include uncertainties relating to the acceptance of semiconductor
intellectual property offerings, expansion of our business, quarterly
variations in results, and other uncertainties that are discussed in
the Risk Factors section of our prospectus dated November
8, 2000, which is on file with the SEC and the Registrar of Companies
in the Republic of Ireland.
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