Conexant Announces Modem
January 6, 2001

Conexant Systems, Inc. Friday announced that the company's dial-up modem technology has been selected to provide Internet connectivity for Sony's PlayStation 2, the world's leading computer entertainment system. 

Top-tier modem manufacturers including AIWA Co. Ltd., ASCII Corp., Cadmus Micro Inc., a Billionton Systems Inc. company, I-O Data Device Inc., Melco Inc. and TDK Corp. will use Conexant's SmartSCM universal serial bus (USB) V.90 chipset to create modems targeted for the PlayStation 2 market, with additional modem manufacturers to closely follow. 

Conexant has also announced that it has developed dedicated modem drivers for the PlayStation 2, and has completed the adaptation of the driver to the TCP/IP, point-to-point protocol (PPP) stack and/or browser software, which will be adopted by leading software developers such as Access Co. Ltd., SN Systems Limited and Planetweb Inc./ERGOSOFT Corp. 

"Internet connectivity is a key value-added feature for PlayStation 2 users, who are looking not only for the ultimate gaming console, but also a complete computer entertainment system," said Matt Rhodes, senior vice president and general manager of Conexant's personal computing division. 

"Our highly integrated solution allows modem manufacturers to easily and cost-effectively design products that add plug-and-play Internet connectivity for the PlayStation 2 platform." 

Game developers such as ASCII Corp., Capcom Co. Ltd., Enix Corp., Hudson Soft Co. Ltd., Koei Co. Ltd., Konami Co. Ltd., Namco Ltd., Square Co. Ltd. and Taito Corp. have also agreed to support Conexant's SmartSCM modem and will soon launch Internet-enabled games for the PlayStation 2. 

These new games come equipped with Conexant's dedicated PlayStation 2 modem driver, so users can enjoy a multitude of Internet game titles with a single Conexant-based SmartSCM USB modem. To prevent user confusion, retail modem boxes and Internet-enabled gaming software will contain a special logo identifying them as compatible with the PlayStation 2. 

Conexant's SmartSCM USB V.90 single-chip modem supports global telecommunication standards so that a single modem design can be initiated worldwide. End-user USB modems incorporating Conexant's chipset will be available in the first quarter of 2001.