Integration Associates Unveils Its New EZRadio(TM) Transceiver -- IA4421; IA4421 EZRadio Transceiver Delivers Low-Power, Low Data Rate, Bi-Directional Wireless Connectivity for 434, 868 and 915MHz Band Communications

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2006--Integration Associates, a fabless semiconductor company focusing on high performance analog solutions for wireless and wireline data communications, today unveiled its next generation EZRadio FSK (frequency shift keying) wireless transceiver -- the IA4421 transceiver.

Building on the innovative and hugely successful EZRadio concept, the IA4421 addresses customers' requests for improved phase noise performance to address the stringent ETSI regulations in the 868MHz band for European customers while also providing improved sensitivity, selectivity and a higher output power for 434, 868 and 915MHz bands which together provide a higher channel efficiency and significant range improvement.

The new IA4421 EZRadio transceivers is footprint and feature compatible with the IA4420 transceiver and the IA4320 receiver products, with the only exception being that the 315MHz band is unsupported in the IA4221.

Like the other products in the EZRadio family, the IA4421 continues to offer advanced bi-directional communication for low cost in high performance wireless applications in the automotive, toy, home automation and building security markets. The EZRadio transceivers are completely software programmable, providing unmatched flexibility to electronic designers. EZRadio is also the first to combine a unique Automatic Antenna Tuning technology (patent pending) in a highly integrated RF (radio frequency) chipset, which provides extremely reliable connectivity, while dramatically reducing the bill of materials and production costs. In addition, EZRadio includes features designed to extend battery life and enable the use of less expensive crystals and microcontrollers.

"Customers worldwide have shown an incredible enthusiasm towards the EZRadio product family and its approach to simplifying RF design," commented Rafi Fried, the General Manager of the RF Business Unit. "Through this, Integration is committed to deliver a number of new and innovative EZRadio devices within the next 12 months, improving performance and added embedded functionality even further."

Key features of the EZRadio transceiver chipsets include:

-- Highly programmable: Choice of unlicensed band (433, 868, 915MHz), low noise amplifier (LNA) gain, baseband bandwidth (67kHz -- 400kHz), data rate, automatic frequency control, crystal load capacitance, output power level, FSK modulation deviation -- reducing production and customization costs.

-- Automatic Antenna Tuning (patent pending): Eliminates the need for production line tuning costs and ensures optimal RF transmission throughout the product lifecycle. Automatic Antenna Tuning takes the guesswork out of the design process, eliminates the need for expensive RF engineering, and delivers an extremely robust wireless link.

-- Fully integrated on-chip RF features: Requires only two external components, a crystal and a low-cost microcontroller, reducing the bill of materials and simplifying the design-in process.

-- Automatic Frequency Control (AFC): The receiver is automatically tuned to the incoming signal, allowing the use of an inexpensive crystal without compromising the radio link.

-- Key radio management functions: EZRadio performs functions such as data recovery and timing without a microcontroller, allowing the choice of a less expensive microcontroller.

-- Clock source available: Does not require a second crystal if a microcontroller is used.

-- Fast and reliable frequency hopping: Counter interference and multipath fading enable over a hundred devices to be used in the same environment, without user issues.

-- High impedance loop antenna can be etched directly onto the circuit board: Eliminates the need for more expensive external antenna designs.

Other members of the current EZRadio FSK wireless chipset family also include the IA4220 transmitter, the IA4221 high output power transmitter, the IA4320 receiver and the IA4420 transceiver.

About Integration Associates

Integration Associates is a fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Mountain View, California, with offices and design centers in Europe and North America. Integration Associates designs and delivers silicon solutions for wireless, wireline and power system management applications for a wide range of systems. For more information about Integration Associates and its products, visit www.integration.com.