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Microtune Introduces the
Industry's First 1-GigaHertz Single-Chip Tuner
Very High-Performance Cable Set-Top Box
Tuner Enables Future-Proof, Reduced-Risk Migration to Bandwidth-Hungry Applications and
Higher Capacity Cable Systems
Microtune(R), Inc. (Pink Sheets:TUNE) today introduces the MicroTuner(TM) MT2121, the
industry's first 1-GigaHertz (GHz) silicon tuner that enables cable set-top boxes and
residential home gateways to support bandwidth-intensive video and home networking
services.
The MT2121 is optimized to receive and
tune radio frequencies in the 50-MHz to 1-GHz range of the cable spectrum. It is ideally
designed for video-on-demand (VOD), subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) and HDTV services,
as well as in-home media distribution. In these applications, superior linearity, image
rejection and frequency response are required for excellent video and multimedia
performance. The MT2121 provides future-proof radio frequency (RF) core technology for
cable equipment manufacturers, permitting them to deliver these services to consumers in
lower-cost, smaller, full-featured set-top boxes.
The MT2121 can be deployed in single or
multi-tuner cable set-top box configurations, residential gateways or media entertainment
servers. It can also be implemented in digital cable-ready TV sets that are compliant with
the new 'Plug and Play' ruling of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
"Cable operators are under
increasing pressure to deliver compelling services that yield additional revenues, reduce
churn and provide a competitive bulwark against encroaching DBS rivals," said Jason
Blackwell, Director, Operations and End Markets, Semico Research Corporation. "With
1-GigaHertz systems, operators can gain up to 140 MHz of additional spectrum to deliver
complex, bandwidth-substantial services for differentiation in the market. Microtune's new
1-GHz tuner is a key electronics component bridging the gap between 860-MHz to 1-GHz
infrastructures. It enables a cost-effective, evolutionary migration to a broad variety of
intermingled multimedia, from telephony and video-on-demand to home networking of video,
music and photos."
"As cable networks migrate to
increasingly higher bandwidth capacity, the MT2121 tuner allows the set-top box to scale
with the systems' service and performance requirements," said James Fontaine, CEO and
President of Microtune. "The MT2121 is the industry's first and only silicon tuner
designed to specifically address the needs of multiple-tuner set-top box platforms in
1-GHz environments. It reinforces our RF pedigree in bringing new and advanced tuner
technology to our customers and demonstrates our renewed commitment to next-generation
digital TV markets."
The MicroTuner MT2121 is a fully
integrated single-chip tuner specifically designed to streamline implementation of set-top
boxes that comply with CableLabs(R) OpenCable(TM) requirements. It features integrated
filter components and input controls that allow for simplified and cost-efficient system
design, compact architectures and reduced RF circuit footprint.
The MT2121 tuner also integrates a
portion of a pre-selection filter that improves performance in networks with severe
differences in signal strength across the input frequency band. Additionally, it includes
an on-chip amplifier, optimized for the out-of-band Forward Data Channel (FDC), that
reduces the overall implementation cost and improves the system performance versus more
traditional discrete designs.
The overall RF footprint used by the
MT2121 is 50% less than comparable module-level solutions. With the robust reliability and
performance of silicon-based (silicon germanium) processes and a solid-state architecture,
it integrates higher levels of functionality into a tiny chip, while delivering lower RF
system costs.
MEMBER OF HIGH PERFORMANCE MT2100 FAMILY
The MicroTuner MT2121 is the newest
member of Microtune's MT2100 tuner family, a class of devices targeted to the U.S. cable
set top market and engineered to offer the highest performance of any silicon tuner
available today. Fabricated in silicon germanium, the devices are complete dual-conversion
analog/digital tuners that include all active RF components, including a low noise
amplifier (LNA) and intermediate frequency (IF) amplifier on chip. They pack a high level
of performance and integration into a miniature 1/4"-square package, while
dissipating only 1 1/2 watts of power.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The MT2121 is available in a miniature
8mm x 8mm 56-lead MicroLead Frame(TM) package. Price starts at $5.50 in quantities of
10,000. The MT2121 tuner will be available this month with production planned in Q2 2004.
An evaluation kit will also be available this quarter, priced at $5000.
For more information about the MT2121
tuner and Microtune's complete suite of RF solutions, visit Microtune's website at
www.microtune.com.
ABOUT MICROTUNE
Microtune, Inc. is a silicon and
subsystems company that designs and markets radio frequency (RF)-based solutions for the
worldwide broadband communications and transportation electronics markets. Inventors of
the MicroTuner(TM) single-chip broadband tuner, Microtune offers a portfolio of advanced
tuner, amplifier, and transceiver products that enable the delivery of information and
entertainment across new classes of consumer electronics devices. The
Company currently holds 28 U.S. patents
for its technology. Founded in 1996, Microtune is headquartered in Plano, Texas, with key
design and sales centers located around the world. The website is www.microtune.com
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT
This press release contains
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual
results to differ from these expectations. Factors which could cause actual results to
differ include Microtune's ability to develop new products that comply with industry
standards; the ability to manufacture new products in the time frame required, the ability
to sell new products at anticipated levels, the ability to develop new products within
anticipated cost range, the ability to manufacture new products at volume levels with no
quality or performance issues, the ability of competitors to develop similar products, and
general economic conditions that have affected the broadband communications and automotive
markets recently, any of which may cause Microtune's financial results to fluctuate.
Additional factors that could also cause actual results to differ include: the effects of
competition, risks associated with our customers, manufacturing risks, risks associated
with securities litigation, intellectual property litigation, and other litigation to
which we are party. For a discussion of factors which could impact Microtune's financial
results and cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking
statements, please refer to Microtune's recent filings with the SEC, particularly the Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and Form 10Q for the quarters ended March 31,
2003, June 30, 2003 and September 30, 2003. Microtune assumes no obligation to update the
forward-looking information contained in this news release.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Microtune is a registered
trademark and MicroTuner, MicroStreamer and VideoCaster are trademarks of Microtune, Inc.
All other company and/or product names may be trade names, trademarks and/or registered
trademarks of the respective owners with which they are associated. Features, pricing,
availability, and specifications are subject to change without notice.
Copyright (C) 2004 Microtune, Inc. All
rights reserved.
