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AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES SELECTS SPECTRUM SIGNAL PROCESSING'S
SOLANO(TM) CHIP FOR NEXT GENERATION COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS
BURNABY, B.C., CANADA - OCTOBER 18, 2000 - Spectrum Signal Processing Inc.
(NASDAQ: SSPI / TSE:SSY), announced today that Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A)
has designed Spectrum's new Solano Communications IC (Integrated Circuit) into
its next generation of wireless communications systems for digital radio and
surveillance applications.
Agilent, created from the realignment of Hewlett-Packard Co. into two separate
companies, is a diversified technology company with annual revenues exceeding
US$ 8 billion and customers in more than 120 countries. Agilent is the first
major communications equipment manufacturer to endorse Spectrum's recently
announced, patent-pending Solano IC, which is now available to leading
communications service providers worldwide.
In addition, Spectrum will design two Solano-based modules that will connect to
Agilent's hardware, further optimizing the performance of their wireless
communications systems. Spectrum has signed a five-year agreement with Agilent
and expects this opportunity to generate millions of dollars in ongoing revenue
beginning in the second half of 2001.
"Today's announcement is the latest step in the aggressive expansion of
Spectrum's wireless communications business. The endorsement by a global
technology leader such as Agilent clearly validates our Solano chip technology
and marks a key milestone as we continue to expand our relationships with key
industry players," said Pascal Spothelfer, Spectrum's President and CEO. "Solano
builds on Spectrum's 10 years of experience designing integrated circuits. We
will continue to expand our design capabilities to address the processing
challenges faced by infrastructure providers in both the wireless and wireline
communications markets," he added.
"Spectrum has been a reliable supplier to Hewlett-Packard and now Agilent since
1997 and we are pleased to be able to build on that relationship by working
closely with them to design the Solano IC into our new systems. The Solano IC
provides us with a unique and very effective means of handling data flow in our
digital radio systems which enables us to maximize the system's overall
performance and our competitiveness in the market place," said Ken Blue,
Surveillance Business Manager for Agilent Technologies.
The Solano IC is based on proprietary chip technology developed by Spectrum. It
is designed to solve a critical bottleneck problem associated with the flow of
large amounts of voice and data signals into, within and out of sophisticated
digital communications infrastructure equipment. By deploying Solano-based
solutions, communications service providers can increase system performance,
expand system capabilities and decrease costs.
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Agilent will integrate the Solano IC and the Spectrum hardware modules into
their next generation of proprietary signal processing systems sold to customers
worldwide. Spectrum's modules will utilize both Motorola's PowerPC(TM) digital
signal processing (DSP) chip and the Solano IC. Spectrum has traditionally
designed its products around DSP chips from Texas Instruments and Analog
Devices. These are the first Spectrum products to use the PowerPC chip, which
expands Spectrum 's product line and enables the Company to provide its
customers with the right signal processing solution to suit their needs.
ABOUT AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a diversified technology company,
resulting from Hewlett-Packard Company's plan to strategically realign itself
into two fully independent companies. With approximately 46,000 employees
serving customers in more than 120 countries, Agilent Technologies is a global
leader in design and manufacturing test, measurement and monitoring instruments,
systems and solutions, and semiconductor and optical components. The company
serves markets that include communications, electronics, life sciences and
healthcare. In fiscal year 1999, the businesses comprising Agilent, then a
subsidiary of HP, had net revenue of more than $8.3 billion. Information about
Agilent Technologies can be found on the Web at www.Agilent.com.
ABOUT SPECTRUM SIGNAL PROCESSING INC.
Spectrum Signal Processing is a leader in signal processing computer systems,
designing sophisticated hardware and software solutions for customers in three
key markets - Network Solutions, Wireless Systems and Sensor Systems. Spectrum's
website is http://www.spectrumsignal.com and the head office is located at One
Spectrum Court, #200 - 2700 Production Way, Burnaby, B.C., Canada. Ph (604)
421-5422; fax (604) 421-1764.
Solano is a trademark of Spectrum Signal Processing Inc.
This news release contains forward-looking statements related to Spectrum's
agreement with Agilent Technologies and are made pursuant to the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The
forward-looking statements made in this news release involve risks and
uncertainties, including the timely development and acceptance of new products,
the impact of competitive products and pricing, changing market conditions and
the other risks detailed in the company's prospectus and from time to time in
other filings. Actual results may differ materially from those projected. These
forward-looking statements represent the company's judgment as of the date of
this release. The company may or may not update these forward-looking statements
in the future.
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