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Press Release

Skyworks Achieves Breakthrough in Power Amplifier Module Integration

Skyworks Achieves Breakthrough in Power Amplifier Module Integration

WOBURN, Mass., Sep 18, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Skyworks Solutions Inc. (Nasdaq:SWKS), the industry's leading wireless semiconductor company focused on radio frequency (RF) and complete semiconductor system solutions for mobile communications applications, today announced the industry's first quad-band GSM/GPRS power amplifier (PA) module that integrates the power control function based on a current sensing method, into a smaller, single-chip package.

Power amplifiers are a critical component in wireless handsets, determining the length of talk time and battery life available to support emerging data services, such as Internet browsing, online shopping, video messaging and other interactive high-bandwidth applications. By integrating the power control function into the module, customers are able to accelerate time-to-market while saving as much as $1 per handset.

"Higher levels of RF front-end integration are key to enabling increased handset user talk time and smaller, more compact mobile phones," said Klaus Buehring, Skyworks' vice president of power amplifiers. "With the integration of the power control function, we are able to further simplify the cellular phone's architecture, eliminating excess components and board space while significantly reducing the overall cost of the handset.

"Additionally, as with all of our GSM PA modules, our latest quad-band solution has been designed to meet the stringent performance requirements of next-generation platforms, and enables manufacturers to use a single device for all of their handsets worldwide. By selecting the industry's highest-quality field-tested modules, our customers are able to shorten their time-to-market and increase their respective handset market shares."

Technical Details

Skyworks' CX77315 is the world's first GSM/GPRS module with built-in power control functionality based on current sensing. By incorporating the power control loop into the module, the CX77315 eliminates the need for directional couplers, detector diodes, power control ASICs and other power control circuitry, which reduces costs, simplifies phone design and manufacturing, and enables the module to be driven directly from the digital to analog converter (DAC) output of the baseband IC.

The CX77315 consists of a GSM850/900 and DCS1800/PCS1900 PA circuit, and 50-ohm fully matched input/output ports to reduce the number of external components required for a quad-band design. The module also supports Class 12 GPRS multi-slot operation. Packaged in a low-profile, compact 8mm x 10mm module, the CX77315 is the industry's smallest production-ready device and provides handset manufacturers with a single-component solution for GSM phones, regardless of geographic region or frequency band. Skyworks' devices are based on a 50 GHz gallium arsenide (GaAs) heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) process technology and support GSM handset operation in more than 180 countries.

In addition, Skyworks' CX77315 module can be combined with the company's award-winning CX74063 or CX74017 direct conversion transceiver to create a fully integrated RF system.

Skyworks is the industry leader in PA module technology, having shipped nearly 200 million PA modules to date, and has an extensive portfolio of solutions that encompass every major wireless standard. According to Gartner Dataquest's June 2002 report "Wireless Communications Semiconductor Competitive Market Shares for 2001," Skyworks held more than 30 percent of the worldwide PA module market in 2001.

Pricing and Availability

Skyworks' CX77315 PA module is sampling now, with volume production scheduled in the fourth calendar quarter. Modules are priced at $3.50 in quantities of 10,000.

About Skyworks

Skyworks Solutions is the industry's leading wireless semiconductor company focused on radio RF and complete semiconductor system solutions for mobile communications applications. The company began operations in June 2002, following the completion of the merger between Alpha Industries Inc. and Conexant Systems Inc.'s wireless communications business. Skyworks is focused on providing front-end modules, RF subsystems and cellular systems to wireless handset and infrastructure customers worldwide.

Skyworks has headquarters in Woburn, with executive offices in Newport Beach, Calif. The company has design, engineering, manufacturing, marketing, sales and service facilities throughout North America, Europe, Japan and Asia Pacific. For more information, visit www.skyworksinc.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include information relating to future results of Skyworks (including certain projections and business trends). All such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, and may affect our future operating results, financial position and cash flows.

These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: maintaining a consistent and reliable source of energy; global economic and market conditions, such as the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and the markets addressed by the company's and its customers' products; demand for and market acceptance of new and existing products; the ability to develop, manufacture and market innovative products in a rapidly changing technological environment; the ability to compete with products and prices in an intensely competitive industry; product obsolescence; losses or curtailments of purchases from key customers or the timing of customer inventory adjustments; the timing of new product introductions; the availability and extent of utilization of raw materials, critical manufacturing equipment and manufacturing capacity; pricing pressures and other competitive factors; changes in product mix; fluctuations in manufacturing yields; the ability to continue to grow and maintain an intellectual property portfolio and obtain needed licenses from third parties; the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; labor relations of the company, its customers and suppliers; economic, social and political conditions in the countries in which Skyworks, its customers or its suppliers operate, including security risks, possible disruptions in transportation networks and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; and the uncertainties of litigation, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time-to-time in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Note to Editors:
Additional technical information and photos available upon request.

Skyworks and Skyworks Solutions are trademarks or registered trademarks of Skyworks Solutions Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries. All other brands and names listed are trademarks of their respective companies.

CONTACT:
Skyworks Solutions Inc., Newport Beach
Lisa Briggs (media), 949/231-4553
lisa.briggs@skyworksinc.com
or
Thomas Schiller (investors), 949/231-4700

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