Qualcomm Atheros' Mobile and Networking Products Selected for Inaugural Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint Testbed

SAN DIEGO, June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Qualcomm Atheros Inc., the networking and connectivity subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM), today announced it has been selected to participate in the Wi-Fi Alliance's Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint™ test suite and its devices are among the first to be certified in the program. By supporting a new generation of hotspot technology, Qualcomm Atheros' Passpoint devices will make it easy for end-users to enjoy automatic and secure Wi-Fi access on the go.

With the proliferation of Wi-Fi in smartphones, laptops, tablets and other mobile devices, many consumers use hotspots for convenient mobile connectivity. By offloading data traffic to the Wi-Fi network, hotspots can help ease the growing strain on existing mobile broadband networks.

Based on the Wi-Fi Alliance Hotspot 2.0 Specification, the new Passpoint certification program is the first industry-wide effort to foster multi-provider Wi-Fi roaming. Not only will mobile operators have a new option for offloading today's data-crunched cellular networks, but subscribers will also be able to utilize seamless connectivity in more hotspots than ever before. In addition, Passpoint network equipment will provide users with the assurance of enterprise-grade WPA2™ security for hotspots.

"We believe that Passpoint will provide significant advantages across the mobile ecosystem – from operators and infrastructure providers, to consumers who demand broadband data and content on the go," said Dan Rabinovitsj, senior vice president and general manager, networking business unit, Qualcomm Atheros. "As a leader in the Wi-Fi industry, we are committed to enabling this new generation of Hotspot 2.0 technology in devices and networks around the globe, as demonstrated by our participation in the first Passpoint certification testbed."

Qualcomm Atheros offers a wide array of high-performance network infrastructure solutions for the growing number of hotspots, as well as mobile solutions for smartphones, tablets and computers. The first Qualcomm Atheros products to receive Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint designation and to be featured in the industry's testbed include the:

• Qualcomm Atheros Dual-Band XSPAN® 3-stream 802.11n Access Point
• Qualcomm Atheros Dual-Band XSPAN® 2-stream 802.11n WLAN Adapter

"We are very pleased to see Qualcomm Atheros promoting the development of the new generation of Wi-Fi enabled mobile broadband technology," said Edgar Figueroa, CEO of the Wi-Fi Alliance. "Qualcomm Atheros has been an active participant in the industry's development of the Hotspot 2.0 Specification, and we commend their commitment to mobile and networking solutions that will help ensure interoperability through Passpoint certification."

More information, including the complete list of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint products, the Wi-Fi Alliance Hotspot 2.0 Specification, white paper, FAQ and more, is available at www.wi-fi.org/passpoint.

About the Wi-Fi Alliance®

www.wi-fi.org

The Wi-Fi Alliance is a global non-profit industry association of hundreds of leading companies devoted to seamless connectivity. With technology development, market building, and regulatory programs, the Wi-Fi Alliance has enabled widespread adoption of Wi-Fi worldwide.

The Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ program was launched in March 2000. It provides a widely-recognized designation of interoperability and quality and it helps to ensure that Wi-Fi-enabled products deliver the best user experience. The Wi-Fi Alliance has completed more than 14,000 product certifications, encouraging the expanded use of Wi-Fi products and services in new and established markets.

Wi-Fi®, Wi-Fi Alliance®, WMM®, Wi-Fi Protected Access® (WPA), the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo, the Wi-Fi logo, the Wi-Fi ZONE logo and the Wi-Fi Protected Setup logo are registered trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance. Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™, Wi-Fi Direct™, Wi-Fi Protected Setup™, Wi-Fi Multimedia™, WPA2™, Passpoint™, Miracast™ and the Wi-Fi Alliance logo are trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

About Qualcomm Atheros

Qualcomm Atheros Inc., the networking and connectivity subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, is a leading provider of wireless and wired technologies for the mobile, networking, computing and consumer electronics markets. The organization is focused on inventing technologies that connect and empower people in ways that are elegant and accessible to all. With its broad connectivity portfolio, Qualcomm Atheros provides its global customer base with high-performance, end-to-end solutions, featuring Wi-Fi®, GNSS Location, Bluetooth®, Ethernet, HomePlug® powerline and passive optical networking (PON) technologies. Qualcomm Atheros leverages its substantial expertise in RF, signal processing, software and networking to deliver highly integrated, low-power, system-level solutions that enable customers to create high-performance, differentiated products. For more information, go to www.qca.qualcomm.com.

Qualcomm Atheros is a trademark of Qualcomm Atheros Inc. XSPAN is a registered trademark of Qualcomm Atheros. Qualcomm is a trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. Bluetooth is a registered trademark of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. Alliance. All other trademarks are the sole property of their respective owners.

Qualcomm Contacts:
Molly Mulloy, Qualcomm Atheros
Phone: 1-408-830-5850
Email: [email protected]

Tina Asmar, Corporate Communications
Phone: 1-858-845-5959
Email: [email protected]

Warren Kneeshaw, Investor Relations
Phone: 1-858-658-4813
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Qualcomm Atheros Inc.