Financial Releases
RFMD Commences EDGE Shipments to Tier One Handset Manufacturer
GREENSBORO, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 28, 2008--RF Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: RFMD), a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance radio systems and solutions, today announced it has begun volume shipments of a linear EDGE cellular front end to a tier one handset original equipment manufacturer (OEM), representing the commencement of a high volume ramp to this OEM anticipated in calendar 2008. Leveraging proprietary technology and an industry-leading product portfolio, RFMD is delivering its innovative, high-linearity RF3159 quad-band EDGE (GSM/GPRS/EDGE) front end in support of a platform resulting in multiple feature-rich handsets.
With the commencement of these first shipments, RFMD is expanding its leadership in EDGE cellular front ends and is now supplying production volumes to all five of the cellular handset industry's largest OEMs. RFMD shipped more than 210 million EDGE front ends in calendar year 2007.
The first handset at this customer to be supported by the RF3159 is a sleek clamshell MP3 music phone with dedicated music controls, external memory and stereo headphones. The tri-band handset also features an FM radio, Bluetooth® stereo and 1.3 megapixel camera, with additional support for portable speakers and Bluetooth® stereo headphones.
"RFMD is pleased to support this leading tier-one OEM on this popular, music-enabled platform," said Eric Creviston, president of RFMD's Cellular Handset Products Group (CPG). "RFMD's focus on integration and industry-leadership across all air interface standards enable handset manufacturers to design feature-rich handsets with compelling form factors and advanced multimedia functionality. We expect the ramp of the RF3159 will enable this OEM to quickly and cost-effectively develop additional phones while strengthening its growing portfolio, and we look forward to additional shipments of EDGE front ends to this customer in calendar 2008."
The shipments of RFMD's RF3159 linear EDGE front end underscore RFMD's position as the leading supplier of EDGE front ends. RFMD anticipates continued sales growth in the EDGE handset market in 2008.
The RF3159 is a high linearity quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE power amplifier designed to support EDGE transceivers utilizing linear transmit architectures, including transceivers by Infineon Technologies, MediaTek and NXP Semiconductors. The RF3159 PA module is fully matched for easy implementation and is housed in a small 6x6mm package. The product's gain and linearity lineups enable handset manufacturers to optimize the transmit chain to meet various requirements of linearity, efficiency and output power. The module is designed to be the final amplification stage in a dual-mode GSM/GPRS/EDGE mobile transmit lineup operating in the 824MHz to 915MHz and 1710MHz to 1910MHz bands.
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.
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CONTACT: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
Doug DeLieto, 336-678-7968
VP, Investor Relations
or
Jerry Neal, 336-678-7001
Executive Vice President
SOURCE: RF Micro Devices, Inc.