Gigle Semiconductor Launches World’s First Gigabit Home Networking Chip, Fuels Latest Belkin Adapters for HD Streaming and PC Gaming

REDWOOD CITY, California, BARCELONA, Spain and EDINBURGH, Scotland - With Gigabit speeds of up to 1000Mbps*, Belkin’s Gigle-powered adapters quickly transfer large data files and stream multiple HD movies online

Gigle Semiconductor, the leading developer of “any wire” multimedia home networking solutions, today unveiled the world’s fastest and most reliable entertainment-grade networking IC, and announced that lead customer Belkin has selected the device for use in the company’s recently announced Gigabit Powerline Networking Adapters. Belkin is using Gigle’s GGL541 IC and mediaxtream(TM) technology to give users an ultrafast HD entertainment network through a home’s existing electrical wiring.

Now shipping in volume, Gigle Semiconductor’s entertainment-grade GGL541 networking chip enables Belkin’s Gigabit Powerline Adapters to provide a secure, stable networking signal anywhere in the home - even for areas that are hard to reach by wireless connections. Gigle’s GGL541 dual-channel home networking IC combines HomePlug(R) AV on powerline with a second channel that simultaneously delivers Gigle’s mediaxtream(TM) technology on powerline, coaxial cable or phone line at physical-layer rates up to 1000Mbps*. On-chip intelligence either aggregates the channels for higher performance, or uses them to form a self-configuring xtendnet(TM) mesh network that re-times and re-generates signals, and incrementally enhances whole-house network performance, coverage, stability and reliability as new adapters are added to the network. The GGL541 chip maintains high data throughput even under extreme noise conditions commonly found in powerline, phoneline and coaxial cables.

Belkin’s Gigabit Powerline Networking Adapters, which are available now in the U.S. and due to be released in Europe in August, take advantage of Gigle’s GGL541 with mediaxtream(TM) technology to deliver high speeds, low latencies, and consistent connections. While the current fastest Powerline technology runs at 200Mbps, Gigabit Powerline delivers performance up to 1000Mbps* data rates.

“We are excited to be using Gigle’s breakthrough ‘anywire’ networking technology in our latest family of high-performance, easy-to-use Gigabit Powerline Networking Adapters,” said Jim Wagner, General Manager, Networking and AV at Belkin. “As demand for Internet video usage continues to grow, we have delivered a product that combines a superior user experience with unprecedented plug-and-play simplicity.”

“Belkin is one of the leading innovators in the emerging entertainment-grade HD home networking space, and we are pleased to have collaborated with them on a very exciting product for online HD movies, gaming and other exciting multi-stream video networking applications,” said Juan Carlos Riveiro, President and CEO of Gigle Semiconductor.

*NOTE: The standard transmission rate - 1000Mbps - is the ideal physical data rate. Actual data throughput and distance will be lower, depending on interference, network traffic, building materials, and other conditions.

Availability

Gigle’s GGL541 1Gbps home networking IC for mediaxtream(TM) and HomePlug(R)AV; and GGL301 home networking IC for HomePlug(R)AV are in volume production.

About Gigle Semiconductor

Gigle Semiconductor provides system-on-chip integrated circuits for multimedia home networking over any wire - powerline, coaxial cable, and phoneline. Targeted for applications such as IPTV, BBTV, VoD, and VoIP, Gigle’s integrated circuits offer superior performance, coverage and quality of service than alternative communication technologies, and are designed to be easily integrated in consumer electronics and IT products. Gigle is a strong supporter of open standards, a member of the HomePlug(R) Powerline Alliance and the HomeGrid Forum and an active participant in IEEE P1901 and ITU-T G.hn wireline standardization initiatives. Gigle has offices in Redwood City, CA; Barcelona, Spain and Edinburgh, UK. Additional information about the company is available at www.giglesemiconductor.com.

About Belkin International, Inc.

Belkin offers a diverse product mix that provides people with seamless electronics integration in their homes, cars, and on the go. Founded in California in 1983, Belkin is a privately held company and the recognized leader in connectivity solutions, in addition to accessories for MP3 devices, computers, and more. We provide extensive solutions for networking, home theater - with our PureAV(R) line of cables, power, and digital wireless accessories - and many more categories. You can view and purchase them at www.belkin.com, as well as through a network of major distributors, resellers, and superstores.

Belkin’s phenomenal growth has led to our expanding global presence. In addition to corporate headquarters in Los Angeles, we now have offices throughout Europe - in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Germany, among others - and in the Asia Pacific region, including Australia, Shanghai, and our regional headquarters in Hong Kong.

Source: Gigle Semiconductor

Kelly Poffenberger, +1-714-961-6871, kellyp at magnetprgroup.com, or Carolyn Fromm, +1-949-651-9539, Carolyn at magnetprgroup.com, both of Magnet PR Group for Gigle Semiconductor; or David Sorensen of Gigle Semiconductor, +1-650-592-3810, david.sorensen at giglesemiconductor.com