Area Networks

LAS VEGAS, Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq: BRCM), the leading provider of integrated circuits enabling broadband communications, and Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq: PALM), a leader in handheld computing, today announced a collaborative agreement to develop an advanced Bluetooth(TM) architecture for use in a next-generation Palm(TM) handheld computer. Palm will use this architecture, which is based on Broadcom's Blutonium(TM) line of transceivers, as a building block for creating innovative Personal Area Networks.

Bluetooth, an international standard for short-range wireless data communications, allows devices to communicate and share data without the use of wires. Together with infrared (IrDA), Bluetooth will enable Palm handheld users to interact with a variety of devices, creating innovative Personal Area Networks. Users of Palm handhelds equipped with Broadcom's Bluetooth chips will be able to synchronize their handhelds and send documents to a Bluetooth- enabled printer without having to connect to a docking station or other wired interface. Bluetooth-equipped Palm handhelds also can be combined with Bluetooth phones to provide high-speed wireless access to email, the Internet or a corporate data network while on the road or outside the office. Bluetooth will allow these interactions to take place without a line-of-sight connection, enabling synchronization and downloads at data rates approaching 1 megabit per second (Mb/s), even while devices are stowed in a briefcase or laptop bag.

"As the recognized leader in the handheld market, Palm's continued commitment to Bluetooth provides a vital piece of the Personal Area Network," said Jeff Thermond, vice president and general manager for Broadcom's Home Networking Business Unit. "Palm's selection of Broadcom's Bluetooth technology demonstrates our leadership in providing high-performance silicon and system solutions to the short-range wireless marketplace."

The Blutonium family of products consists of Bluetooth Qualification Board (BQB) Version 1.1-qualified single-chip system solutions as well as stand- alone radios, which provide high-performance connectivity for short-range wireless data communications. The single-chip Broadcom(R) BCM2033 is optimized for use in handheld computers, mobile phone handsets and laptop computers. As part of the new collaboration, Broadcom and Palm will design a wireless solution for a future Palm handheld using the BCM2033.

"Palm handhelds adhere to highly restrictive space and power requirements in order to optimize size and battery life," said Angel Mendez, senior vice president of Global Operations at Palm, Inc. "Broadcom's Bluetooth products are a best-value solution meeting our cost, size, performance and power requirements, while also meeting Bluetooth specifications."

Among wireless standards, Bluetooth is uniquely suited to add full- featured wireless connectivity to handheld devices without changing existing usage models. Because Bluetooth has a low impact on handheld battery life, the breadth of applications offered by adding wireless connectivity comes without compromising the user experience. The short-range omni-directional Bluetooth standard will provide the ability for collaboration and sharing of personal information data, as well as seamless connections to the Internet, without compromising battery life.

About Palm, Inc.

Palm, Inc. is a pioneer in the field of mobile and wireless Internet solutions and a leading provider of handheld computers, according to IDC (December 2000). Based on the Palm OS(R) platform, Palm's handheld solutions allow people to carry and access their most critical information wherever they go. Palm(TM) handhelds address the needs of individuals, enterprises and educational institutions through thousands of application solutions.

The Palm OS platform is also the foundation for products from Palm's licensees and strategic partners, such as Acer, Franklin Covey, HandEra (formerly TRG), Handspring, IBM, Kyocera, Samsung, Sony and Symbol Technologies. Platform licensees also include AlphaSmart, Garmin and Nokia. The Palm Economy is a growing global community of industry-leading licensees, world-class OEM customers, and approximately 175,000 innovative developers and solution providers that have registered to develop solutions based on the Palm OS platform. Palm went public on March 2, 2000. Its stock is traded on the Nasdaq national market under the symbol PALM. More information is available at http://www.palm.com .

About Broadcom

Broadcom Corporation is the leading provider of highly integrated silicon solutions that enable broadband communications and networking of voice, video and data services. Using proprietary technologies and advanced design methodologies, Broadcom designs, develops and supplies complete system-on-a- chip solutions and related applications for digital cable set-top boxes and cable modems, high-speed local, metropolitan and wide area and optical networks, home networking, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), carrier access, residential broadband gateways, direct broadcast satellite and terrestrial digital broadcast, digital subscriber lines (xDSL), wireless communications, SystemI/O(TM) server solutions and network processing. Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and may be contacted at 949-450-8700 or at www.broadcom.com.

Safe Harbor Statement of Broadcom Corporation under the Private Securities

Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

This release may contain forward-looking statements based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by us. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will" and variations of these words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date hereof, and are based upon the information available to us at this time. Such information is subject to change, and we will not necessarily inform you of such changes. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, our actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including, but not limited to, our Annual Report on Form 10-K, recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and recent Current Reports on Forms 8-K and 8-K/A) discuss risks that could contribute to such variations or otherwise affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

NOTE: Broadcom(R), the pulse logo(R), SystemI/O(TM) and Blutonium(TM) are trademarks of Broadcom Corporation and/or its affiliates in the United States and certain other countries. Bluetooth(TM) is a trademark owned by Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB and licensed to participants in the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) in the United States and certain other countries. Palm OS(R) is a registered trademark and Palm(TM) is a trademark of Palm, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE Palm, Inc.
Web site: http: //www.palm.com
CONTACT: press, Bill Blanning, +1-949-585-5555, or blanning@broadcom.com, or Eileen Algaze, +1-949-585-5971, or ealgaze@broadcom.com, Corporate Communications Department, or investors, Nick Kormeluk, Director, Investor Relations, +1-949-585-6932, or nickk@broadcom.com, all of Broadcom Corporation; or Kristine Boyden of A&R Partners, +1-650-762-2837, or kboyden@arpartners.com, for Palm, Inc.