Wednesday November 19, 8:21 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Texas Instruments Incorporated
Texas Instruments and Westell Announce Strategic Alliance For Digital
Modem Technologies
Alliance will Accelerate Consumer Mass Market Deployment Of xDSL Advanced High-Speed
Data Communications
AURORA, Ill. and DALLAS, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN - news) and Westell
Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: WSTL - news) announced today a strategic alliance that will accelerate the development and
deployment of TI's digital signal processing (DSP)-based digital subscriber line (xDSL) technologies with Westell's DSL
systems.
Westell and TI will initially work together to define and integrate TI's technologies into Westell's SuperVision_ xDSL Access
Multiplexer (DSLAM) and customer access equipment. The DSPs will incorporate discrete-multi tone (DMT) software
technology. According to industry analysts, DSP-based solutions are expected to provide the industry's best
cost/density/performance implementation for standards compliant DSL system solutions. The Westell DMT products are
planned for customer availability in the first half of 1998.
In addition, TI and Westell will jointly define and develop next generation DSL solutions. These platforms will include higher
speed and consumer oriented digital modems and will leverage DSP programmability to include value-added services like
network and service management. The results of these efforts are expected to provide mass volume deployment of
broadband multimedia services such as high speed internet access, work at home and real-time video communications.
''This alliance will provide Westell early access to leading TI DSP technologies and the volume manufacturing clout that will
allow us to turn DSL into the next generation of high speed modem technology for everyone. TI is a proven market leader in
digital signal processing solutions and together we are committed to enable this emerging industry with cost-effective
standards compliant systems,'' said Gary Seamans, Chairman and CEO of Westell Technologies.
''Westell's recognized leadership in DSL systems and extensive field trial experience lends a powerful endorsement to TI's
programmable DSP solutions for digital modems. Our relationship with Westell will accelerate deployment of
standards-based DSL equipment and services worldwide'' said George Barber, vice president of TI's Semiconductor Group.
NOTE: Texas Instruments Incorporated is a global semiconductor company and the world's leading designer and supplier of
digital signal processing solutions, the engines driving the digitalization of electronics. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the
company's businesses also include calculators, productivity products, controls and sensors, metallurgical materials and digital
light processing technologies. The company has manufacturing or sales operations in more than 25 countries.
Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located on the
World Wide Web at ti.com .
Westell Technologies is a holding company for Westell Inc., Conference Plus Inc. and Westell Worldwide Services Inc.
Westell Inc. is a leading worldwide innovator and manufacturer of xDSL systems and telecommunications access products,
with corporate headquarters in Aurora, Illinois. Westell's xDSL products are currently in use or trial by multiple customers
including Ameritech, Bell Atlantic, Bell Canada, BT, GTE, MCI, Quebec Telephone, SBC, Saskatchewan Telephone,
Telecom Italia, US West and leading Internet service providers. In addition to developing and manufacturing xDSL and
non-DSL data and telecommunications products, Westell Inc. has established technology relationships with leading
telecommunication, software and computing companies such as Atlantech Technologies, ATML, DSC Communications,
Lucent Technologies, Microsoft and others.
Conference Plus Inc., is a multi-point telecommunications service bureau specializing in audio conferencing, multi-point video
conferencing, broadcast fax, and multimedia teleconference services. Westell Worldwide Services Inc., is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Westell Technologies, providing engineering, installation and network management services to leading network
providers as well as turn-key equipment and service solutions to enterprise customers and service providers. Additional
information can be obtained by visiting Westell's Web site at westell.com .
''Safe Harbor'' Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain statements contained herein,
with respect to product availability and expectations leading to mass volume deployment, are forward looking statements.
These statements include risks and uncertainties such as those listed under the ''risk factors'' section contained in Westel's
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997. These risks include but are not limited to, product demand and market
acceptance risks, the impact of competitive products and technologies, competitive pricing pressures, product development,
commercialization and technological delays or difficulties, the effect of economic conditions and trade, legal, social and
economic risks.
SOURCE: Texas Instruments Incorporated |
