Press Release

*****For immediate use April 12th, 2000

NEC Forges Ahead with World's First USB 2.0 Host Controller LSI

"World's First USB 2.0 Host Controller LSI"		"World's First USB 2.0 Host Controller LSI"

TOKYO April 12, 2000 - NEC Corporation (NEC) (NASDAQ: NIPNY) (FTSE: 6701q.l) has developed the world's first host controller LSI for the new high bandwidth USB (universal serial bus) 2.0 serial interface, that will provide the speeds required for connecting future personal computers with high performance peripherals and broadband Internet services. Sampling begins from this month with volume production planned from September 2000.

"NEC can take pride in being in the first wave of companies to develop and sample products with the new USB 2.0 interface," said Jason Ziller, Intel technology initiatives manager and spokesperson for the USB 2.0 Promoter Group. "NEC's rapid implementation of USB 2.0 will bring significant flexibility and connectivity for the next generation of computing."

The USB 2.0 host controller LSI (PD720100) offers important advances over its USB 1.1 predecessor, providing a maximum bandwidth of 480Mbps (megabits per second) over forty times the previous level of 12Mbps. The PD720100 dynamically configures bandwidth according to the speed of the device connected and provides support for the new 480Mbps of USB 2.0 as well as the 12Mbps and 1.5Mbps originally defined in the USB 1.1 specification.

A fully integrated single-chip, the PD720100 incorporates a physical layer function for simple USB 2.0 system solutions and is backward compatible with USB 1.1. It also incorporates two USB 1.1 host controllers onboard, so that the PD720100 not only provides the far higher bandwidth of USB 2.0 but also doubles the 12Mbps speed limit of peripherals conforming to the earlier USB 1.1 specification.

"USB is playing a key role in recent efforts to simplify the PC while enhancing its capabilities, and USB 2.0 gives the best of both worlds. It presents easy plug 'n play with enough bandwidth for the most demanding PC peripherals and we have it right here, right now with the PD720100" says Takahiro Tokuume, Senior Manager in NEC's Semiconductor Solutions Engineering Division, NEC Electron Devices and member of the Board of Directors of the USB Implementers Forum, Inc.

With a maximum bandwidth 40 times greater than USB1.1, USB 2.0 is expected to provide a vastly improved user experience and result in new, hitherto unimagined, applications. The 480Mbps maximum bandwidth of USB 2.0 satisfies the higher bandwidth needs of peripherals such as DVD-ROM drives, video cameras and high-speed printers, as well as applications like MPEG-2 encoded video streaming and broadband Internet connections.

These benefits are anticipated to greatly enhance the user experience by opening new application opportunities and providing for higher productivity. They will also add further momentum to the "Easy PC" concept, which sees current serial buses such as PS/2 etc., replaced by the universal serial bus to connect both higher performance peripherals and conventional devices like the humble keyboard and mouse.

NEC is a core member of the USB 2.0 Promoter Group and a key supporter in promoting USB's widespread acceptance throughout the industry. The company already provides a range of host controller, hub, low-speed keyboard microcontroller LSIs and full-speed ASICs for USB 1.1.

With the development of the industry's first USB 2.0 host device, NEC expects it will establish a commanding position in this key market. The company intends to extend this advantage with the later release of complimentary products, including a hub controller LSI, physical layer device and USB 2.0 - ATA/ATAPI-4 bridge.

• About NEC Corporation
• Main specifications of the PD720100

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                        Media Contact:
                        Aston Bridgman
                        NEC Corporation
                        TEL   :81-3-3798-6511
                        FAX   :81-3-3457-7249
                        E-mail:Aston_Bridgman@HO-PRD.ccgw.nec.co.jp