Financial Releases
RFMD(R) Announces POLARIS(R) 3 Silver
BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- RF Micro Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq: RFMD), a global leader in the design and manufacture of high- performance radio systems and solutions, today announced POLARIS® 3 Silver - the newest edition to the POLARIS family of GSM/GPRS/EDGE Total Radio RF solutions. POLARIS 3 Silver leverages the performance advantages of POLARIS 3 and features RFMD's patent pending MicroShield integrated RF shielding. RFMD recently commenced high-volume shipments of POLARIS 3 and now forecasts strong growth of POLARIS 3 in calendar year 2008.
Since the introduction of POLARIS 1 in 2004, RFMD has become a leading supplier of complete GSM/GPRS/EDGE RF systems. The Company's highly integrated, ultra-compact POLARIS 3 RF solution integrates all the necessary functions of the RF section of quad-band EDGE cellular handsets, including the power amplifier, SAW filters, crystal oscillator, switch and transceiver. The innovative antenna-to-baseband TOTAL RADIO implementation of POLARIS 3 quickly and cost-effectively solves complex customer challenges related to the development and deployment of EDGE cellular handset platforms. This unparalleled ease-of-use allows manufacturers to get mobile devices to market faster and with less RF design effort. With the addition of RFMD's MicroShield Integrated RF Shielding, POLARIS 3 Silver delivers POLARIS 3 performance without sensitivity to board placement and at a significant reduction in both product volume and profile.
RFMD's POLARIS 3 Silver RF solution leverages RFMD's deep systems-level design expertise and unrivaled portfolio of enabling technologies. POLARIS 3 Silver features RFMD's proven large signal polar modulation (LSPM) architecture and includes new, innovative technologies, including MicroShield and proprietary circuit technologies that improve total radiated power (TRP) performance. POLARIS 3 Silver is assembled and tested at RFMD's recently expanded Beijing, China, facility.
Eric Creviston, president of RFMD's Cellular Handset Product Group (CPG), said, "POLARIS 3 Silver extends the value proposition for our POLARIS RF Solutions by adding the clear benefits of MicroShield Integrated RF Shielding to the proven performance of POLARIS 3. In handset applications, MicroShield technology can eliminate traditional RF shielding and enable highly complex RF modules that are insensitive to board placement, which is a critical factor in the implementation of high-volume handset platforms. Handset manufacturers using MicroShield technology can enjoy the benefits of improved RF performance, lower total cost, reduced board space requirements and overall ease of RF implementation."
Production of POLARIS 3 commenced in the September 2007 quarter, and POLARIS 3 shipments continue to grow. Based upon current customer activity, RFMD forecasts growth of POLARIS 3 in the March 2008 quarter and strong growth throughout calendar year 2008. RFMD's POLARIS RF solutions command approximately three times the dollar content of EDGE cellular front ends.
RFMD will showcase its industry-leading portfolio of cellular front end products at the 2008 GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, February 11-14, 2008, in Hall 8, Stand 8B79.
About RFMD:
RF Micro Devices (Nasdaq GS: RFMD) is a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance radio frequency systems and solutions. RFMD's cellular front ends, cellular transceivers, RF components and system-on-chip (SoC) solutions enable worldwide mobility, provide enhanced connectivity and support advanced functionality in the cellular handset, cellular base station, wireless local area network (WLAN), CATV networking, aerospace, defense, and global positioning systems (GPS) markets. Recognized for its diverse portfolio of state-of-the-art semiconductor technologies and vast RF systems expertise, RFMD is a preferred supplier to the world's leading mobile device and RF equipment manufacturers.
Headquartered in Greensboro, N.C., RFMD is an ISO 9001- and ISO 14001- certified manufacturer with worldwide engineering, design, sales and service facilities. RFMD is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol RFMD. For more information, please visit RFMD's website at www.rfmd.com.
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives, representations and contentions and are not historical facts and typically are identified by use of terms such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue" and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. You should be aware that the forward-looking statements included herein represent management's current judgment and expectations, but our actual results, events and performance could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. We do not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements or publicly announce the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements, other than as is required under the federal securities laws. RF Micro Devices' business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including variability in quarterly operating results, the rate of growth and development of wireless markets, risks associated with the operation of our wafer fabrication facilities, molecular beam epitaxy facility, assembly facility and test and tape and reel facilities, our ability to complete acquisitions and integrate acquired companies, including the risk that we may not realize expected synergies from our business combinations, our ability to attract and retain skilled personnel and develop leaders, variability in production yields, our ability to reduce costs and improve gross margins by implementing innovative technologies, our ability to bring new products to market, our ability to adjust production capacity in a timely fashion in response to changes in demand for our products, dependence on a limited number of customers, and dependence on third parties. These and other risks and uncertainties, which are described in more detail in RF Micro Devices' most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause actual results and developments to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any of these forward-looking statements.
RF MICRO DEVICES®, RFMD®, PowerStar® POLARIS® TOTAL RADIO and MicroShield Integrated RF Shielding (Patents Pending) are trademarks of RFMD, LLC. All other trade names, trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE RF Micro Devices, Inc.
CONTACT: Dean Priddy, CFO, +1-336-678-7975, or Doug DeLieto, VP, Investor Relations, +1-336-678-7968, both of RFMD(R)