MT. PROSPECT,  Ill., May 1, 2000 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --  Illinois
Superconductor Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: ISCO), a leading supplier of
superconducting RF front-end systems for the wireless industry, announced today
that recent publication in Japan of test results comparing alternative filter
technologies for Third Generation (3G) Wireless systems has confirmed that
receiver filter systems using thick-film superconducting material outperform
both thin-film superconducting technology and conventional dielectric filter
technology in suppressing out-of-band interference. Such interference can cause
a loss of system capacity. The results were presented by researchers from NTT
Mobile Communications Network, Inc., at a General Conference of the Institute of
Electronics, Information, and Communications Engineers (IEICE -- a leading
Japanese technical society) at a conference held in Hiroshima, Japan, on March
28-31 of this year, and were published in the Proceedings of that conference
(available from the IEICE). 3G systems are being developed to support high-
speed wireless Internet access for mobile and portable users. The published
results are summarized (see photo URL), which shows the nearly perfect ability
of thick-film superconducting filters to eliminate out-of-band interference, in
marked contrast to other technologies.
 
(Photo: NewsCom: newscom.com )
 
"This study establishes that thick-film is the clear front-runner in terms of
filter performance for 3G," said Dr. Amr Abdelmonem, the Chief Technical Officer
for ISC. "We have been testing our systems with the Japanese since 1997, and
these latest results confirm their previous tests. These tests should make clear
that thick-film superconducting technology gives the best performance in
receiver filters by a wide margin over thin-film."
 
Dr. George Calhoun, Chief Executive Officer of ISC, said: "These results are
decisive for the receiver-filter application for 3G. This technical report is
based on careful and extensive testing by independent scientists in Japan, and I
am confident that they will be swiftly accepted by the wireless industry.
Illinois Superconductor is the only company in the world which produces
thick-film superconducting systems for the wireless industry, so this bodes well
for our company to play an important role in supplying the needs of 3G as this
market develops over the next couple of years."
 
Illinois Superconductor Corporation is a leader in the commercialization of high
temperature superconducting technology for the wireless telecommunications
industry. The Company develops, manufactures and markets radio frequency (RF)
products to enhance the quality and capacity of cellular telephone, personal
communications services and other wireless telecommunications services. More
information about Illinois Superconductor Corporation is available on the
Company's internet web site at ilsc.com .
 
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to
the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995 and reflect the Company's current expectations regarding the future results
of operations, performance and achievements of the Company. The Company has
tried, wherever possible, to identify these forward-looking statements by using
words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "plans,"
"intends," and similar expressions. These statements reflect the Company's
current beliefs and are based on information currently available to it.
Accordingly, these statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and
contingencies, which could cause the Company's actual results, performance or
achievements for 2000 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in,
or implied by, such statements. These important factors include, without
limitation, the Company's history of net losses and the lack of assurance that
the Company's earnings will be sufficient to cover fixed charges in the future;
the degree to which the Company is leveraged and restrictions imposed on the
Company under its existing debt instruments which may adversely affect the
Company's ability to finance its future operations, uncertainty about the
Company's ability to compete effectively against better capitalized competitors
and to withstand downturns in its business or the economy generally; the adverse
effects on liquidity of the Company's common stock because of its de-listing
from the Nasdaq National Market in June 1999; continued downward pressure on the
prices charged for the Company's products due to the competition of rival
manufacturers of front end systems for the wireless telecommunications market;
the timing and receipt of customer orders; the Company's ability to attract and
retain key personnel; and the effects of legal proceedings. A more complete
description of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions is included in the
Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those
described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999. The Company undertakes no
obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new
events or uncertainties.
 
SOURCE Illinois Superconductor Corporation
 
 
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 CONTACT:          Maureen Murnane of Illinois Superconductor Corporation,
                   847-391-9492
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