U.S. Robotics to use Rockwell chips!
Rockwell Semiconductor Systems Enters Cable Modem Market
December 2, 1997
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NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE) via Individual Inc. --
Rockwell Will Field Complete Chipsets For Both Sides Of The
Connection Between Subscribers And Cable Operators; Products
Will Fully Support Soon-To-Be-Finalized Industry
Interoperability Standards
Rockwell Semiconductor Systems today announced the first in a planned family of cable modem chipsets that will enable Internet connections and other data services up to 700 times the speed of the fastest conventional analog modems.
With its entry into the cable modem market, Rockwell has now established leadership psoitions across all of the industry's top next-generation modem initiatives including 56Kbps analog modems, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) modems and high-speed cable modems.
Rockwell's initial cable modem offering will enable the development of subscriber-side modems that fully support interoperability specifications from the Multimedia Cable Network Systems (MCNS) consortium.
The consortium's Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 1998 and will serve as the basis for worldwide cable modem standards.
Rockwell plans to release its complete three-chip subsriber-side MCNS cable modem solution during this same timeframe. By the third calendar quarter of 1998, Rockwell plans to field a complete head-end chipset solution for cable operators as well.
Rockwell's cable modem program was launched in April with the acquisition of ComStream Corp.'s Hi-Media Products group, a leading supplier of broadband ICs that was merged into Rockwell's Digital Infotainment Division.
The technology inflow resulting from the Hi-Media acquisition has enabled Rockwell to accelerate its product design and deployment timetable so that the company can capitalize on cable's growing attractiveness as a high-speed medium for Internet access and other data services.
"A variety of forces are now rapidly converging to make cable an extremely viable solution for next-generation Internet access and other data services and content delivery applications," said A.C. D'Augustine, vice president and general manager for Rockwell's Digital Infotainment Division.
"The broad-based support for the MCNS standard among chip suppliers, equipment manufacturers and cable TV operators has created a tremendous level of excitement and momentum behind this technology, and early consumer feedback during field trials has been excellent," D'Augustine added.
"To capitalize on this accelerating momentum, Rockwell has taken industry-leading broadband technology from our Hi-Media acquisition and combined it with our high-volume semiconductor manufacturing expertise to create a solution with mass-market appeal."
Roadmap Encompasses Full Range of Components
Rockwell current and planned chip offering includes:
-- Subscriber-side modem chips for demodulation and forward error
correction:
Rockwell's third-generation HM2121 Quadrature Amplitude
Modulation (QAM) and HM2115 Forward Error Correction (FEC) ICs
represent a complete two-chip solution for receiving high-speed
data over cable, and have been selected by New Media
Communications, U.S. Robotics (now part of 3Com Corp.) and a
number of other major Japanese, Korean and American consumer
OEMs.
-- Complete three-chip subscriber-side solution: Rockwell plans to
field its complete solution for subscriber-side MCNS cable
modems during the first quarter of 1998, including a
next-generation single-chip QAM/FEC demodulator, a Quadrature
Phase Shift Key (QPSK)/QAM Burst Modulator, and a Media Access
Controller (MAC).
-- Complete head-end chipset solution: By the third quarter of
1998, Rockwell plans to release a complete head-end chipset
solution including a burst demodulator and QAM modulator IC.
Cable Modems to Dramatically Speed Web Browsing Performance
Cable modems offer the advantage of near-instantaneous Web downloads and a continuous connection between the subscriber and his service provider. A subscriber cable modem will typically have one connection to the cable wall outlet and the other to a personal computer. MCNS DOCSIS-compliant cable modems will enable Internet connections at typical rates of 3Mbps downstream and 1Mbps upstream, with peak rates approaching 36Mbps downstream and 10Mbps upstream. Standards are expected to drive the development of a consumer market with pricing and distribution channels that are similar to today's voiceband modem products.
"As a pioneer in the key components of MCNS cable modems, Rockwell offers field-tested, third-generation solutions to cable modem developers," said Jay Kshatri, director of broadband ICs for Rockwell's Hi-Media Products group.
"We are now leveraging the complete Rockwell semiconductor portfolio to develop the rest of the cable modem system, and are producing high-performance client modem and head-end integrated circuits that are critical pieces of a complete solution for mainstream deployment. The Hi-Media team brings more than 20 years of proven system-level broadband communications experience. We are not just an IC supplier -- we are an extension of the customer's design effort."
In addition to providing cable modem ICs, Rockwell provides a broad range of engineering and design services to support cable modem OEMs. These services include development of accompanying software and firmware, system integration, debug and evaluation, detailed design specifications, design documentation including schematic and PCB layout files and bill of materials, and testing and working cable modem prototypes. Furthermore, Rockwell's El Paso Custom Manufacturing Facility has the expertise to quickly get customers into volume production.
"Rockwell's manufacturing and customer support infrastructure, coupled with the technology expertise of its recently acquired Hi-Media Products, provides a powerful enabler to make cable modems a high volume business, and positions the company to become a leading supplier of ICs for the broadband access market," said Greg Sheppard, director and principal analyst, semiconductor application markets, Dataquest.
Full Range of Modem Solutions
Rockwell's cable modem offering represents the third prong in Rockwell's strategy to serve a rapidly evolving market for next-generation, high-speed consumer modem solutions. In the first quarter of 1997, Rockwell began volume shipments of its K56flex(tm) modem chipset, the world's most widely adopted solution for 56Kbps analog modem connections between PC users and Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
In October, Rockwell expanded its Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) family with the addition of a new Consumer DSL(tm) technology for modems that can be priced, sold and installed much like today's popular V.34 and K56flex modems, yet offers downstream data transfer speeds that are 10 to 20 times faster. Rockwell anticipates that K56flex, DSL and cable technologies will each find broad-based acceptance as the market seeks a variety of solutions depending on where consumers live, what services their carriers offer, and the types of Internet access and other data services they require.
Pricing and Delivery
Rockwell's HM2121 demodulation IC and HM2115 FEC IC are both available now and packaged in 100-pin PQFP and 144-pin PQFP packages, respectively. A preliminary version of Rockwell's HM8416-A MCNS MAC chip is available now as a set of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) to enable designers to begin development and testing of their systems. These first parts are available now in sample quantities but are development/prototype products only and will not be available in volume production. They will be replaced shortly by the more integrated solution, which will be available early in 1998.
For more information on Rockwell products, contact the Rockwell Literature Line at 800/854-8099 inside the U.S., at 714/221-6996 outside the U.S., or email rss@salesupport.com, or visit the Rockwell Web site at rss.rockwell.com .
Hi-Media Products, part of the Digital Infotainment Division of Rockwell Semiconductor Systems, has core competencies within RF, physical and MAC layer integrated circuit products spanning a wide range of digital communications applications. Based in San Diego, Hi-Media Products is a leading systems-driven broadband IC developer and the dominant supplier of transmission components for the digital video initiatives of the telecommunications industry.
Rockwell Semiconductor Systems and Electronic Commerce, based in Newport Beach, Calif., is a leading worldwide provider of semiconductor system solutions for personal communications electronics and systems, software and services for the global call center industry. Rockwell Semiconductor Systems comprises five divisions -- Personal Computing, Network Access, Personal Imaging, Wireless Communications, and Digital Infotainment.
Personal Computing is a leading supplier of communications and media processing products for the PC. Network Access offers a broad line of high-bandwidth communications and networking devices including central site modems, xDSL, LAN, ATM and T1/E1 transceiver products.
Digital Infotainment focuses on products for the digital consumer electronics information and entertainment markets. Personal Imaging is the world leading supplier of devices for facsimile products and develops and manufactures semiconductors for multifunctional peripherals, printers, personal video and digital imaging products. Wireless Communications develops cordless and cellular chipsets, GPS, power amplifier and front end receiver components for all major wireless standards.
The Electronic Commerce Division, based in Wood Dale, Ill., is a leading supplier of call center systems and personalized electronic commerce applications software.
Rockwell (NYSE:ROK) is a global electronics company with leadership positions in industrial automation, semiconductor systems, and avionics and communications, with 45,000 employees and FY97 sales of approximately $8 billion. Rockwell's world headquarters is located in Costa Mesa, in Orange County, Calif.
NOTE: Consumer DSL is a trademark of Rockwell. K56flex is a trademark of Lucent Technologies and Rockwell.
CONTACT: The Benjamin Group Inc. | Jan Johnson, 714/245-7500 | jjohnson@oc.tbgi.com | or | Rockwell Semiconductor Systems | Eileen Algaze, 714/221-6849 | eileen.algaze@rss.rockwell.com
[Copyright 1997, Business Wire]
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