Using Atheros’ Advanced Wireless-System-On-A-Chip, Xbox Wireless Adapter Connects
an Xbox Video Game System to Broadband Gaming Services. Atheros Communications,
a leading developer of advanced, multimode wireless LAN technology, today announced
that its 802.11g wireless-system-on-a-chip (WiSOC) chipset is featured in the
new Xbox Wireless Adapter (MN-740) from Microsoft. The chipset enables users
to connect to any 802.11g or 802.11b Wi-Fi network and play games wirelessly
via the Xbox Live service, the world’s largest all-broadband console gaming
service. Atheros worked closely with Microsoft’s Xbox and Broadband Networking
Groups to develop the wireless LAN adapter. Xbox Wireless Adapter began shipping
in the U.S. and Canada this month at an estimated U.S. retail price of $139.

“With this new adapter, Xbox will deliver both high-performance wireless
gaming and an easy-to-use, seamless user experience,” said Craig Barratt,
president and chief executive officer of Atheros. “Atheros’ wireless LAN
technology is ideally suited for high-bandwidth, consumer applications like
gaming, and we will continue to help partners like Microsoft develop multimedia
products with advanced wireless capabilities.” . . .

Supporting the 802.11g Wi-Fi standard, Xbox Wireless Adapter allows gamers
to experience data rate transfer speeds up to 54 Mbps, which is five times faster
than an 802.11b Wi-Fi network. The higher performance provides a significant
increase in throughput, which results in a better user playing experience, including
higher quality multiplayer and head-to-head gaming, live chats and other bandwidth-intensive
applications.

“Atheros’ high performance and standards-based wireless LAN technologies
made its chipset a preferred solution for Microsoft,” said Todd Greenberg,
product manager for Broadband Networking at Microsoft Corp. “This first-of-its-kind
wireless adapter for Xbox gaming will make it much more convenient to experience
Xbox Live from any Xbox-connected television in the home, without the need to
use messy cables or drill holes in the walls.”

The Xbox Wireless Adapter uses Atheros’ 802.11g WiSOC chipset, which supports
802.11b and 802.11g networks in the 2.4-GHz band. Atheros chipsets support the
latest wireless security standards such as Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and
draft 802.11i Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) without reducing performance.
They also include draft 802.11e Quality of Service enhancements for multimedia
and voice chat applications. For more information about Atheros, please visit
www.atheros.com.

About Atheros Communications, Inc.
Atheros Communications is a leading developer of networking technologies for
secure, high-performance wireless local area networks. As an innovator in advanced
multi-mode wireless solutions compliant with the IEEE 802.11 specifications,
Atheros is driving transparent connections among electronic devices in the office,
home and on the road. Atheros technology is being used by many of the world’s
leading wireless equipment manufacturers. For more information, visit www.atheros.com
or send email to info@atheros.com.

Atheros and the Atheros logo are trademarks of Atheros Communications, Inc.
All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective
owners.

Filed under: Hardware

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