Microtune and Com21 Announce Strategic Relationship to Develop Cable Access Products
Relationship Fueled by Growing Consumer Demand for High-Speed Cable Internet Access Services
PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 5, 2000-- Microtune, Inc., a leading supplier of integrated RF broadband solutions,
today announced a strategic relationship to develop silicon-based RF solutions for cable modem products with Com21, Inc.
(Nasdaq:CMTO - news), a leading supplier of system solutions for the broadband access market.
The relationship is based on an agreement in which Com21 will purchase through 2001 a guaranteed quantity of
Microtune's RF 4737 Tuners for its current and next-generation line of DOXport(TM) DOCSIS-certified cable modems.
Com21 has also made an investment in Microtune.
As part of this alliance, Com21 will also work with Microtune to develop, characterize, test and commercialize Microtune's
next generation of silicon-based 'gateway' broadband tuners, called MicroTuners. The goal is to develop low-power,
high-performance RF-IC solutions that comply with the evolving DOCSIS specification (cable modem), while meeting the
requirements of the upcoming PacketCable(TM) industry standards for cable telephony. These silicon tuner solutions are
targeted for integration into Com21's cable product lines in 2001.
``Microtune is recognized in the industry as a pacesetter in the development of highly-integrated silicon and systems
solutions, ''said Paul Gordon, vice president of Engineering at Com21. ``Through this agreement, we are combining the
strength of our technologies to deliver high-performance, field-proven and cost-optimized solutions to our customers, in
keeping with our commitment to superior products and services. The result will be technology-leading cable broadband
solutions that meet the increasing consumer demand for high-speed data access today, while providing a silicon-based RF
migration path for the delivery of integrated voice, data, and video in the future.''
``Com21, as one of the early pioneers in cable modems, is one of the largest suppliers of the technology worldwide,'' said
James Fontaine, president of Microtune. ``Our agreement with Com21 -- and its commitment to our RF Module and
MicroTuner(TM) silicon product suite -- is a significant milestone for Microtune. It positions Com21 to develop broadband
cable products that meet the increasing demands of cable operators and subscribers for compelling new services, like cable
telephony, and high-bandwidth applications.''
About Microtune
Microtune Inc. is leading RF silicon and systems company that designs, manufactures and markets 'gateway' tuner-receiver
solutions for use in cable modems, set-top boxes, PC/TV multimedia, TV/Digital TV and other consumer appliances. Inventors
of the MicroTuner(TM) single-chip broadband tuner, the company currently holds seven patents for its RF technology, with
an additional sixteen pending approval, containing a total of more than 1000 supporting claims. Founded in 1996,
Microtune is a privately-held international company, headquartered in Plano, Texas, with key design, manufacturing and
sales centers located around the world. The Web site is www.microtune.com.
About Com21, Inc.
Com21, Inc. is a leading global supplier of system solutions for the broadband access market. The Company's DOCSIS, DVB,
and ATM-based products enable cable operators and service providers to deliver high-speed, cost-effective Internet and
telephony applications to corporate telecommuters, small businesses, home offices, and residential users. To date, Com21 has
shipped over a half million cable modems worldwide, along with nearly one thousand headend controllers. Com21 systems
offer commercial service in cable systems passing 15 million households worldwide.
Com21 is an ISO 9001 registered company with over 260 employees in 13 countries. The Company's corporate headquarters
is located in Milpitas, California, USA, with its European headquarters in Delft, The Netherlands. In addition, Com21
maintains a European Development Centre in Cork, Ireland, as well as sales and support offices in the United States and
Canada, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
Editors Note:
Microtune and MicroTuner are trademarks of Microtune, Inc. Com21®and DOXport(TM)are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Com21, Inc., Milpitas, California, U.S.A. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
All other product or company names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause such
statements to differ materially from actual future events or results. Factors which could cause actual results to differ include
the growth of the cable-based broadband communications industry and the market acceptance of our radio frequency
tuners within this industry, our ability to develop new products and to migrate customers to our MicroTuner silicon-based
tuner-on-board product lines, capacity constraints within the industry and financial risks that may cause our financial results
to fluctuate. Readers are referred to the reports and documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
especially the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed on June 16, 2000 for a discussion of factors that may
cause actual results to differ.
Contact:
Microtune, Inc., Plano
Kathleen Padula, 972/673-1811
Kathleen_Padula@microtune.com |
