Agere Systems and Agilent Technologies announce new supporters for "Xenpak" 10 Gigabit Ethernet transceiver multi-source agreement

Source: Agere Systems and Agilent Technologies

Allentown, PA. and Palo Alto, CA. Agere Systems (NYSE: AGR.A) and Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced that Mitsubishi Electric, Pine Photonics Communications, Optillion and Tyco Electronics have joined the 10 Gigabit Ethernet multi-source agreement (MSA) group and will supply devices that match the form factor defined by the MSA. IBM Microelectronics also intends to develop 10 Gigabit Ethernet products that conform to the MSA guidelines.

The MSA, announced by Agere and Agilent in March 2001 and now known as "XENPAK," supports the proposed IEEE 10 Gigabit Ethernet interoperability standard, and specifies a uniform form factor, size, connector type and electrical pin-outs. All seven companies expect to independently develop and market 10 Gigabit Ethernet transceivers based on the proposed IEEE standard and this MSA.

"The design input we've received from these new member companies has helped us build a very strong physical standard for the industry," said Mike Peppler, strategic marketing manager at Agere Systems. "By incorporating the expertise of various suppliers, we've created an open design that can be used by other transceiver manufacturers."

The MSA covers all four transceiver types defined in the proposed standard, including 850 nanometers (nm) serial, 1310 nm serial, 1310 nm WWDM and 1550 nm serial. The transceiver modules defined by this MSA are 36 millimeters (mm) (1.5 inches) wide, 121 mm (4.8 inches) long and 17.4 mm (0.7 inches) high. The specified dimensions will allow eight devices to be mounted on typical line cards.

The transceivers will be front-panel-pluggable devices, connecting to a host circuit board in the "Z" plane through a board-mounted card-edge connector. Tyco Electronics designed and will produce the electrical connector. The electrical input/output is based on the four wire XAUI (10 gigabit attachment unit interface). The optical interface will be a standard SC duplex fiber optic connector. Additional details of the MSA will be made available at a later date.

The XENPAK MSA group will open its membership to other transceiver manufacturers as well.

"The XENPAK MSA defines a robust, easy-to-use packaging standard to help expedite the convergence of networking applications at 10 gigabits," said Euan Livingston, marketing manager for Agilent's Fiber Optic Business Unit. "I've never seen this level of interest in a multi-source agreement before, from both equipment companies and optical electronic vendors alike."

"IBM intends to develop transceivers based on the proposed MSA because it lays out a robust and flexible approach to supporting all of the approved IEEE physical media-dependent specifications," said Dale Crist, transport business line manager for IBM. "This common transceiver design can enable new IBM transceivers that deliver greater bandwidth, capacity, speed and security to the data and e-business transactions of today and the future."

The member companies expect to begin shipping 10 Gigabit Ethernet transceivers based on this MSA later this year.

For further information, customers may contact the following company representatives by e-mail:

Agere Systems: Michael Peppler, peppler@agere.com Agilent Technologies: Euan Livingston, euan_livingston@agilent.com IBM Corp: Chris Andrews, candrews@us.ibm.com Mitsubishi Electric: Matthew Nicholson, matthew.nicholson@hq.melco.co.jp Pine Photonics Communications: Alex Leibovich, aleibovich@PinePhotonics.com Optillion: Bertil Kronlund: bertil.kronlund@optillion.com Tyco Electronics: Tom Riha, rihat@tycoelectronics.com

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare. With 48,000 employees serving customers in more than 120 countries, Agilent had net revenue of $10.8 billion in fiscal year 2000. Information about Agilent can be found on the Web at www.agilent.com.

About Agere Systems

Agere Systems Inc., formerly the Microelectronics Group of Lucent Technologies, is the world leader in semiconductors for communications applications. Lucent has announced it intends to spin off Agere Systems as an independent company. Agere Systems offers integrated optoelectronics and integrated circuits solutions to help customers reduce the time and expense of developing new communications equipment. It also provides wireless computer networking solutions through its ORiNOCO product line. More information about Agere Systems is available from its Web site at http://www.agere.com.

Agilent Technologies Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements (including, without limitation, Agilent Technologies' timing and ability to develop, produce and ship 10 Gigabit Ethernet transceivers based on the proposed IEEE standard) that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the results of Agilent Technologies to differ materially from management's current expectations. These and other risks are detailed in Agilent's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2000, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Agere Systems Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements based on information available to Agere as of the date hereof. Agere's actual results could differ materially from those results stated or implied by such forward-looking statements due to a number of risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, completion of the distribution of Agere stock by Lucent Technologies Inc., price and product competition, keeping pace with technological change, dependence on new product development, reliance on major customers and suppliers, customer demand for our products and services, availability of manufacturing capacity, components and materials, control of costs and expenses, general industry and market conditions and growth rates and general domestic and international economic conditions including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations. For a further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see the prospectus filed by Agere with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2001. Agere disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact: Glen Haley Agere Systems 908-508-8662 (office) 973-276-0295 (home) glenhaley@agere.com or Mark Alden Agilent Technologies 408-435-6922 mark_alden@agilent.com or Carl Blesch Agere Systems 908-508-8412 (office) 908-306-0784 (home) cblesch@agere.com