Intel Announcess First Network Processor

[RommelS]

Source: Intel.com

Intel Announces First Network Processor Product Line For Home And Small To Medium Enterprise Applications

Expanded Product Line Provides Choice of Integrated Data, Voice and Security Features for WiFi and Wired Applications

INTEL DEVELOPER FORUM, SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 20, 2003 - Intel Corporation today introduced three new network processors that address the needs of many wired and wireless applications for the home, small office/home office (SOHO) and small- to medium-enterprise (SME) market segments.

The new Intel® IXP420, IXP421, IXP422 network processors provide developers with a choice of integrated data, voice and security features to meet the requirements of high-performance, cost-sensitive applications. With their Intel® XScale™ core, these processors combine performance headroom to support rich application services with the time-to-market benefits of a common architecture.

The Intel® IXP4XX product line provides equipment makers with a wide range of WAN and LAN interfaces for a variety of applications. The IXP422 network processor is designed for residential gateways, wireless access points and SME routers and switches, including support for cryptography. The IXP421 network processor enables data plus Voice over IP (VoIP) applications and the IXP420 network processor is optimized for broadband access applications such as home gateways and SOHO routers used with external modems.

"Intel continues to focus on providing network processor solutions that are increasingly cost effective and power efficient for our customer's applications and that extend from home and small office equipment to service providers' core switching equipment," said Nick Finamore, general manager, Intel Network Processor Division. "In addition, we continue to expand our extensive ecosystem of complementary products through the Intel® Communications Alliance (ICA). Complementary silicon, operating systems, development tools and application solutions are increasingly available from members of the alliance."

Intel's IXP4XX product line is already being adopted by network equipment providers like Linksys*, a developer of secure and high performance wireless devices for business and hot spot environments.

"Today we are announcing a new generation of Linksys* Wireless Access Points for small/medium business (SMB) users based on the IXP422 and as the leader in wireless networking solutions for the home, SOHO and SMB environments, we believe the IXP422's combination of high performance, scalability, and cost effectiveness can help Linksys extend our leadership with an advanced line of SMB wireless products," said Victor Tsao, president and CEO, Linksys. "A key benefit of the Intel product line is that we were able to start developing products last fall around the Intel® IXP425 network processor knowing that the IXP422 would be both hardware- and software-compatible and that we could go into volume production quickly when the IXP422 was available."

Rich Development Environment
Intel also announced it is working with Microsoft* Corp. on porting the Windows* CE .NET embedded operating system onto the Intel IXP425 network processor.

"The combination of the Intel IXP425 network processor and Windows CE .NET is a compelling and rich platform for OEM customers that need to get their next generation of smart, small footprint networked devices, such as residential gateways and VoIP phones, to market quickly." said Todd Warren, general manager of the Embedded and Appliance Platforms Group at Microsoft.

Pricing and Availability
The IXP420 and IXP422 will have samples available in April with general availability in June and the IXP421 will sample in July, with general availability in September. 10K pricing for the IXP420 will be $20.90, the IXP421 will be $22.80 and the IXP422 will be $22.30. 10K pricing for the IXP425 ranges from $26.60 to $61.80 depending on speed (266, 400 and 533 MHz) and temperature (commercial or extended) requirements.

General availability of the Windows CE .NET board support package on the IXP425 begins later this year.

About IDF
The Intel Developer Forum is the technology industry's premier event for hardware and software developers. Held worldwide throughout the year, IDF brings together key industry players to discuss cutting-edge technology and products for PCs, servers, communications equipment, and handheld clients. For more information on IDF and Intel technology, visit http://developer.intel.com.

Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communications products. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom.