DS2 introduces low-cost 100Mbps powerline chipset for networking applications

  • New 100Mbps chipset is interoperable with UPA-compliant 200Mbps and 400Mbps products from DS2 and will be priced at $5.55 in volume

 Valencia, Spain - Dec 10th 2007 - DS2 has announced the availability of its MONTGO powerline communications chipset for the consumer market. MONTGO provides a maximum data rate of 100Mbps and is specifically targeted at data networking applications. Products designed for internet sharing, audio distribution or data networking applications will benefit from the extremely low cost of MONTGO, which offers full interoperability with DS2's highly successful UPA-DHS compliant 200Mbps product (Universal Powerline Association Digital Home Systems Standard) and future 400Mbps powerline products that offer higher performance levels for the requirements of video networking.

MONTGO will be sampling during Q1 2008 and will be available in volume during Q2 2008. The chipset (comprised of the DSS8101 PHY/MAC chip and the DSS7800 AFE chip) will be priced at $5.55 in volume.

Chano Gomez, Vice-President of Technology and Strategic Partnerships at DS2 said: "Until today, equipment manufacturers have been offered medium-speed Powerline ICs that are expensive (between $8 and $10 for an 85Mbps and $5.00 for 14 Mbps Powerline IC from Intellon) and which are not compatible with higher speed 200Mbps products. Consumers are then offered products that lack high performance and that risk becoming obsolete as the industry moves to 200Mbps, 300 Mbps and future 400Mbps. Our new MONTGO chipset solves these two problems: it's very competitively priced at $5.55 and can interoperate with 200Mbps and future 400Mbps powerline products. This provides a very compelling proposition to device manufacturers, service providers and consumers."

Jorge Marcos, Product Manager at DS2 said: "Our market research clearly shows that one of the biggest concerns for device manufacturers developing Powerline products in the medium-speed segment is that they are forced to deal with a single solution that, until today, did not face competition in that segment and which does not deliver interoperability. We are convinced that DS2's latest offering will introduce some healthy competition and will allow device manufacturers to develop 100 Mbps products for data networking applications that interoperate with 200Mbps and 400Mbps generations."

Dr. Jorge Blasco, DS2 CEO, will present MONTGO at a workshop in The Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taipei, Taiwan on Dec 11th 2007. During the workshop Dr. Blasco will also demonstrate DS2's recently announced 400Mbps powerline technology for high performance multimedia applications.

About DS2
DS2 is the leading technology innovator and a global provider of high-speed semiconductor solutions for Powerline Communications and other wire-line network communications products. Led by a very strong team of former executives from IBM, AT&T/Bell-Labs, INTEL, Philips Semiconductors, France Telecom, Ericsson and Cisco executives we deliver state-of-the-art ICs and software solutions to manufacturers of consumer electronics, home networking and digital entertainment equipment and broadband access products.  DS2 invented high-speed Powerline Communications delivering the first 200 Mbps Powerline Communications IC to enable the delivery of quality multimedia home networking, networked entertainment and broadband access applications to and throughout the home, office, or building, and to and throughout urban and rural communities. Enabling the hidden multimedia network behind the power outlet is the purpose of DS2. Our mission is to connect the Planet. For more information please visit www.ds2.es

About UPA
The Universal Powerline Association (UPA) is an international not-for-profit trade association working to promote global standards and regulation in the fast developing Powerline Communications market. The UPA aims to catalyze the growth of Powerline technology by delivering UPA plug-tested and certified products that comply with these specified standards and regulations.  All products and applications designated around UPA guidelines will communicate,  from single coexistence to full interoperability.  The UPA porvides all Powerline players the opportunity to respond to key customer expectations with open standards based on interoperability, security and coesitence and support by exclusive and independent certification, the only global guarnateee of quality and coexistence for high-speed powerline technology available today. Members of the UPA include: Acbel Polytech Inc, Ambient Corporation, Arteche, BPL Global, Buffalo, Comtrend, Corinex Communications Corp, Current Technologies International, Cypress Semiconductor, D-Link, DS2, Duke Energy, Ilevo (Schneider Electric Powerline Communications), Itochu Corporation, Logitec Corporation, Moscow City Electricity Grid, Netgear, PCN Technology, Pirelli Broadband, Planex, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Toshiba Electronics Europe, GmbH, Touba Telecom, Toyo Networks &System Integration Co.Ltd, and Watteco. For more information please visit www.upaplc.org

Media contacts
Ann Whyte
DS2
Tel:+ 34 96 136 60 04
ann.whyte@ds2.es

Manuela Whittaker
The Press Office, PR for DS2
Tel: +44(0)1780 721433
mwhittaker@pressoffice.targetwire.com

Product enquiries
Chano Gomez
DS2
chano.gomez@ds2.es

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