320 MB/sec Controller To Enable 3.5-Inch E-Disks With Greater Than 230 MB/sec Sustained Random Read/Write And More Than 50,000 Random IOPS

SUNNYVALE, CA--(INTERNET WIRE)--May 7, 2002 -- Lightspeed Semiconductor and BiTMICRO Networks announced today their partnership to accelerate BiTMICRO"s implementation of its next generation flash memory controller design into an ASIC solution using Lightspeed"s Modular Array technology.

BiTMICRO"s next generation of E-Disk flash drive controller chipset will have a 320 MB/sec internal FlashBus(TM) bandwidth -- which will be unrivaled in the industry. This will enable E-Disk solid state flash drives to saturate IDE Ultra ATA 133 (UDMA 133), Serial ATA, Ultra 320 SCSI, iSCSI, InfiniBand and 2 Gbit per port Fibre Channel device interfaces.

The new generation E-Disk solid state storage device will deliver an industry record breaking sustained random read/write transfer rate of at least 230 MB/second and more than 50,000 random input/output per second (IOPS). Each device will be offered with up to 155 GB solid state storage capacity in 3.5-inch hard disk drive (HDD) footprint. First customer shipment is scheduled for 2003.

This new generation of nonvolatile E-Disk solid state flash disk is intended to enhance the performance and availability of the Information Technology (IT) infrastructure of businesses that are moving towards the Network Attached Storage (NAS) and/or the Storage Area Network (SAN) centric environments.

"BiTMICRO"s close relationship with Lightspeed has enabled BiTMICRO to benefit from Lightspeed"s fast prototype to production capabilities and to seamlessly migrate our earlier generation of ASIC flash disk memory controllers. Lightspeed has always been a leading ASIC technology innovator and their technology will continue to drive new levels of quality, performance, integration, compliance, and flexibility to our new solid state flash memory controller," noted Rey Bruce, Chairman and CEO of BiTMICRO Networks.

Bruce added, "We carefully watch the use of our resources and in the present difficult economic conditions, Lightspeed"s low cost NRE is a big plus for us. We are also very confident that their newly enhanced ASIC architecture and outstanding customer support will reduce our design work, thereby meeting our desired time to market with minimal cost."

"BiTMICRO is introducing the highest performance solid state drive in the market, and Lightspeed is proud to be BiTMICRO"s ASIC partner in developing this cutting-edge technology which adds such tremendous value to the total cost of ownership of solid state storage solutions," said Dave Holt, President and CEO of Lightspeed Semiconductor.

About BiTMICRO Networks

BiTMICRO Networks, Inc. ( www.bitmicro.com), a privately held California corporation, is the world"s premier supplier of high performance solid state disk, flash drive, and storage management solutions. BiTMICRO"s solutions offer unmatched performance, data availability, and manageability across a spectrum of platforms from entry systems to super computers. The E-Disks® solutions are currently offered with SCSI, IDE/ATA or Fibre Channel interfaces in 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch HDD footprints and 19-inch rackmount configurations. Their engineering methods, expertise and flexible system architecture bring to their clients highly reliable and upgradeable storage solutions and also address custom-design application requirements.

About Lightspeed Semiconductor

The Easy Way to ASIC

Lightspeed Semiconductor, Inc. ( www.lightspeed.com) is a privately held, fabless semiconductor company delivering an innovative family of Modular Arrays. As Inventors of the Modular Array, we continue to break down the barriers to ASIC. We deliver high performance ASIC solutions with low NREs in volumes of 1K to 100K.

Modular Array ASICs are the emergent design choice for custom digital applications. They are production-ready devices suitable for a broad class of applications -- contemplating technology and business demands. Lightspeed invented the Modular Array to solve these challenges, and is now working on our 3rd generation product to continue delivering on the promise of the Modular Array: The Easy Way to ASIC.

E-Disk®, FlashBus(TM), BiTMICRO Networks(TM), and BiTMICRO(TM) are trademarks of BiTMICRO Networks, Inc. AutoTest®, and Lightspeed(TM) are trademarks of Lightspeed Semiconductors. Others are trademarks of their respective companies or other countries.