ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS RISER SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP, INC. FORGES AHEAD

ACR SIG MEMBERSHIP CLIMBS TO 55 AND STARTS FIRST ROUND OF DESIGNED FOR WINDOWS LOGO TESTS.

Portland, Oregon - November 20, 2000 - The Advanced Communications Riser Special Interest Group, Inc. (ACR SIG), committed to the development of the first open riser standard for communication hardware, announces that its membership has risen to 55 industry-leading companies.  The ACR SIG is rapidly penetrating and gaining traction throughout the PC industry, as evidenced by progress toward creation of a Microsoft Designed for Windows Logo certification process for ACR, and sponsorship of the Strategy 2001™ Conference.

The ACR SIG has worked closely with Microsoft in preparation for the Designed for Windows Logo testing program for Windows hardware compliance.  The first round of hardware compatibility tests are being developed and validated on riser cards from Conexant, Smart Link and SigmaTel, running on VIA core logic chipsets and Phoenix BIOS.    

"As the first open specification SIG for advanced PC communication riser card that provides a common architecture for analog modem, Ethernet, HomePNA and wireless networking, DSL, and audio functions, the ACR SIG has a growing list of member companies actively developing products for this standard. We have demonstrated Plug & Play capability and interoperability with multiple riser card and motherboard vendors," said George Minassian, president of the ACR Special Interest Group.

Furthermore, the ACR SIG has been invited to sponsor Strategy 2001™, creating an ideal vehicle to demonstrate its standards. The Strategy 2001™ Conference is an exclusive event for the top 300 industry leading executives and provides an important forum to discuss key issues and opportunities facing the computer, consumer electronics, entertainment, and telecommunications industries. 
 

What ACR members add:

"We are pleased to join the ACR Special Interest Group," said Vic Jayasimha, director of business development for broadband communications, for Analog Devices, Inc. "Analog Devices applauds ACR SIG on its initiatives and is committed to supporting riser card initiatives in our DSL modem reference designs."

"AMD is committed to innovating computing platforms by providing and supporting new technologies with increased benefits such as the Advanced Communications Riser technology," said Mike Johnson, vice president of the Advanced Architecture Lab for AMD. "Together, the AMD AthlonTM processor and AMD's DDR, LDT and ACR initiatives enable the next generation of PCs and platform communications".

"Through its rapid and efficient integration, ACR is quickly becoming the technology standard for the next generation in the PC industry.  Prompt delivery of ACR's latest information to its members also facilitates the rapid acceptance of ACR technology," said Gerald Wang director of Aopen.

"Conexant is pleased to support riser card initiatives such as ACR products," said Conrad Maxwell, manager of product & technology planning of Conexant's Personal Computer Division. "The ACR Special Interest Group is driving an open industry effort to expand and advance communications technology by addressing architectural issues of cost and flexibility for PC OEMs."

 "The progress towards development of a Microsoft Designed for Windows logo compliance test program for ACR is very encouraging," said Surinder Rai, general manager of Client Access Products with Lucent Technologies Microelectronics Group. "The ACR standard provides a means for cost-effectively bringing multiple communications/networking technologies to the PC platform."

"Motorola is committed to supporting riser card initiatives such as the ACR product family," said Mike Tramontano, marketing director of Motorola's Software Products Division. "The ACR Special Interest Group's efforts continue to accelerate the market adoption rate of software communications technology by addressing issues of cost, small-form-factor design and configuration flexibility.  The resulting advantages of lower system costs and enriched functionality will benefit PC OEMs and consumers alike."

"We believe that ACR-enabled platforms and riser cards are growing at a steady rate," stated Dan Vivoli, senior vice president of marketing for NVIDIA Corporation, the global leader in advanced 3D graphics and multimedia.  "By combining our new Media Communication Processor (MCP) product family with ACR riser strategy, and will provide customer with flexibility to support new and evolving multimedia and communication features. "

"Phoenix a dedicated member of ACR SIG will continue to deliver rapid, high quality BIOS for Phoenix and ACR SIG customers. In this effort, Phoenix Technologies and ACR SIG are working together to have an ACR solution that meets the Designed for Windows Logo requirements," said Steve Lair, vice president of marketing for Phoenix.

 "We have been witness to the benefits of modem riser technology in conjunction with HSP software communications and are enthusiastic about the goals of this special interest group," said Peter Chen, CEO of PCTEL.  "We believe that the compliance with the Designed for Windows Logo requirements will enhance the ACR solution for OEMs by providing a highly integrated and qualified solution for the personal computing market."

"SigmaTel appreciates the opportunity to join other leading communications companies to create product designs for the ACR riser that will meet the Designed for Windows Logo requirements and ultimately lower costs for the PC manufacturer," said Alan Hansford, SigmaTel's vice president of marketing. "Designing to the open standards ACR specification helps us to lower deployment costs for audio, networking and broadband connectivity devices, while also making the devices more flexible and adaptable for manufacturers."

"Smart Link congratulates the ACR SIG on its recent membership expansion. This clearly displays the industry's commitment to the ACR specification," said Antonio Visconti, vice president of marketing and business Development, Smart Link. "Our SmartRISER™ soft modem chipsets currently support the ACR form factor and provide superior communications solutions to PC manufacturers who wisely choose to employ the ACR specification."

"ACR provides an outstanding solution for both venders and end users.  With an open-architecture and user-friendly design, the ACR technology enables various peripheral features integrated in a slot.  We are pleased to adopt ACR to reinforce our integration recipe in SiS630S and SiS730S," said Shing Wong, senior vice-president, for Silicon Integrated Systems Corporation (SiS).

"TI is pleased with the rapid adoption industry is giving ACR," said Ryan Middleton of Texas Instruments New Business Development.  "The progress to date toward the Designed for Windows Logo compliance testing program will help insure a smooth launch for ACR."

"VIA is excited that our KT133 chipset provides a platform for development and validation of Designed for Windows Logo testing program for ACR.  We are taking our support of ACR to the next generation on our new VT8233 V-Link South Bridge and Pro266 and KT266 North Bridge controller DDR solutions," said Richard Brown, director of marketing.

About Microsoft's Designed for Windows Logo Program for hardware and ACR Compliance Testing

Microsoft offers the Designed for Windows Logo Program to help customers identify systems and peripherals that meet a baseline definition of platform features and quality goals that ensure a good Windows experience for the end user.

Products that earn the Windows Logo have been tested to ensure that they meet Microsoft standards for compatibility on the Windows operating systems designated on the logo.

The Designed for Windows Logo certification process for ACR is in place and WHQL and the ACR-SIG are taking steps to move the program to self-test.  Details about the ACR certification process will be announced shortly in the WHQL and Windows Logo Program Weekly newsletter and on http://www.microsoft.com/hwtest.  For additional information or questions, regarding the Designed for Windows Logo Program for ACR, please contact acrhelp@microsoft.com.

The Microsoft Windows Logo Program System and Devices Requirements document provides the authoritative source for information about requirements for the Windows Logo Program for hardware.  For more information on the program including the current requirements document and industry reviewer subscription information, see http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/winlogo  

About the Advanced Communications Riser Special Interest Group

The ACR Special Interest Group (ACR SIG) manages the development of the ACR specification. The group's mission is to promote the development and introduction of simple, reliable and inexpensive communications and audio systems for the personal computing market segment.  

The ACR SIG is an open, not-for-profit organization representing the microcomputer industry.  ACR SIG membership is open to the microcomputer industry. To become an ACR SIG member or to obtain more information about the group, visit the ACR SIG web site at http://www.acrsig.org.

The ACR SIG founding companies include: 3COM, AMD, Acer Laboratories Inc., Conexant, Lucent Technologies, Motorola, NVIDIA Corporation, PCTEL, Texas Instruments, and VIA.