GREENSBORO, N.C., May 7, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RF Micro Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq:RFMD), a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance radio frequency components and compound semiconductor technologies, announced today it has teamed with Silicon Laboratories, Inc. (Nasdaq: SLAB) to deliver Sub-GHz solutions for a broad range of smart grid applications.

The RFMD® RF6569 smart energy front-end module (FEM) and Silicon Labs' EZRadioPRO® Si4464/63 transceivers have been combined to create the RF6569/Si4464/63 reference design. This high-performance Sub-GHz solution provides public utilities and consumers more control over how they monitor and save energy. The solution targets portable battery-powered equipment such as smart energy advanced metering infrastructure, security and home automation systems, industrial control systems, and sensor networks in the 902 to 928MHz and 868MHz ISM bands.

RFMD's highly integrated RF6569 module features a 915MHz/868MHz 30dBm power amplifier, a Tx harmonic output filter, a single-pole double—throw (SPDT) antenna switch, and an Rx through path. The RF6569 is housed in a 5.5 x 5.0 x 1mm package, reducing discrete component content while minimizing footprint and assembly costs. The transceiver interface is single-ended with separate Rx/Tx.

Rohan Houlden, general manager of RFMD's Wireless Connectivity business unit, said, "RFMD and Silicon Labs are leveraging each other's expertise to deliver high-performance, highly-integrated solutions that reduce design cycle times, lower customer costs, and accelerate product time-to-market. RFMD anticipates our collaboration with Silicon Labs will directly benefit our smart energy customers while supporting continued growth in the burgeoning smart energy marketplace."

"The combination of RFMD's RF6569 module and Silicon Labs' Si446x EZRadioPRO provides an energy-efficient solution for long-range RF applications such as smart utility metering," said Greg Fyke, director of wireless products at Silicon Labs. "The 4463-TCE30E915R-EK reference design gives developers an accelerated path to boost output power to 1W in a small form factor without sacrificing exceptional low-power operation."

For more information about the RF6569/Si4464/63 reference design (part number 4463-TCE30E915R-EK), visit http://www.rfmd.com/products/siliconlabs/rf6569-si4464.aspx.

About the EZRadioPRO Wireless IC Family

Silicon Labs' EZRadioPRO family of transmitters, receivers and transceivers extends all the benefits of the EZRadio® family, such as high integration, low cost, flexibility and easy design-in, into more sophisticated ISM band applications. EZRadioPRO devices offer an array of enhanced parameters and features including continuous frequency coverage from 119 to 1050 MHz and output power up to +20 dBm. They also include useful built-in features such as wake-up timer, low battery detector, transmit and receive data FIFOs, power-on reset circuit and general-purpose digital I/Os. For more information about Silicon Labs' EZRadioPRO family, visit www.silabs.com/EZRadioPRO.

Silicon Laboratories Inc.

Silicon Laboratories is an industry leader in the innovation of high-performance, analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs. Developed by a world-class engineering team with unsurpassed expertise in mixed-signal design, Silicon Labs' diverse portfolio of patented semiconductor solutions offers customers significant advantages in performance, size and power consumption. For more information about Silicon Labs, please visit www.silabs.com.

About RFMD

RF Micro Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq:RFMD) is a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance semiconductor components. RFMD's products enable worldwide mobility, provide enhanced connectivity and support advanced functionality in the cellular handset, wireless infrastructure, wireless local area network (WLAN), CATV/broadband and aerospace and defense markets. RFMD is recognized for its diverse portfolio of semiconductor technologies and RF systems expertise and is a preferred supplier to the world's leading mobile device, customer premises and communications equipment providers.

Headquartered in Greensboro, N.C., RFMD is an ISO 9001-, ISO 14001-, and ISO/TS 16949-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 web site at www.rfmd.com.

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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 operating results, risks associated with the impact of global macroeconomic and credit conditions on our business and the business of our suppliers and customers, our reliance on a few large customers for a substantial portion of our revenue, the rate of growth and development of wireless markets, our ability to bring new products to market, our reliance on inclusion in third party reference designs for a portion of our revenue, our ability to manage channel partner and customer relationships, risks associated with the operation of our wafer fabrication, molecular beam epitaxy, assembly 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, raw material costs and availability, our ability to reduce costs and improve margins in response to declining average selling prices, our ability to adjust production capacity in a timely fashion in response to changes in demand for our products, dependence on gallium arsenide (GaAs) for the majority of our products, dependence on third parties, and substantial reliance on international sales and operations. 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 and statements 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: At RFMD(R)

         Doug DeLieto

         VP, Investor Relations

         336-678-7088



         At Silicon Laboratories(R)

         Dale Weisman

         Global PR Manager

         512-532-5871

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