Atheros Delivers First Mobile Infrastructure Mode Functionality to NTT DOCOMO Customers in NEC's New, Dual-Mode Handset

SANTA CLARA, CA, May 19 (MARKET WIRE) --
Atheros Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHR), a global leader in
innovative technologies for wireless and wired communications, announced
today that its revolutionary AP Mode technology is now offered by NTT
DOCOMO, INC. to its FOMA(TM) customers with the new NEC N-06A dual-mode
handset, docomo PRIME series(TM). This new smartphone is the first on the
market that uses Atheros AP Mode technology to allow users to connect
their Wi-Fi(R)-enabled laptops and devices to the Internet without an
access point (AP) present. This groundbreaking Atheros mobile WLAN
technology significantly expands the functionality of the handset,
enabling a wide array of new applications for mobile users.

AP Mode, an optional feature of the Atheros AR6002 Radio-on-Chip for
Mobile (ROCm(R)) WLAN solution, allows handsets to operate in
infrastructure mode, the primary wireless connectivity framework employed
in access points, routers, laptops and other WLAN devices. Infrastructure
mode offers significant advantages such as greater ease of use and lower
power consumption over ad-hoc mode, a legacy approach to device
connectivity. In infrastructure mode, the handset behaves like a typical
AP, providing seamless connectivity to any WLAN-enabled client device
without user intervention, whereas ad-hoc requires manual configuration
of devices on both ends of the link every time a connection is created.
With Atheros' AP Mode, client devices function in sleep mode when not
actively transmitting or receiving data packets, resulting in superior
power efficiency and extended battery life.

"Once again, Atheros is providing innovative functionality to the handset
market, this time with the world's first infrastructure-based AP Mode
technology for mobile products," said Amir Faintuch, vice president and
general manager of Atheros' Mobile Business Unit. "We are pleased that NEC
has integrated this cutting-edge technology into its docomo PRIME series
N-06A to expand the relationship between the handset and Wi-Fi-enabled
devices, and unleash an unparalleled mobile experience."

The new NEC N-06A is a dual-mode (HSDPA and WLAN), consumer smartphone
with an 8.1 megapixel camera and an 854 x 480 pixel, 3.2-inch touchscreen.

"Atheros AP Mode will be a very compelling feature for the docomo PRIME
series NEC N-06A customers, enabling them to create their own
next-generation personal area networks, complete with Internet
connectivity, via NTT DOCOMO's FOMA network," said Yoshiharu Tamura, vice
president, Personal Solution Business Unit, NEC Corporation. "The N-06A
allows users to connect to a WLAN client device, providing a new class of
flexibility and convenience for accessing, as well as sharing content and
the Internet on the go."

"Today's consumers enjoy an unprecedented amount of content via their
handsets, used in an expanding number of applications, such as email,
video-over-IP and mobile gaming," said Toshio Miki, associate senior vice
president and managing director, Communication Device Development
Department for NTT DOCOMO, INC. "Atheros AP Mode, featured in the new
docomo PRIME series NEC N-06A, is ideally suited to take these usage
scenarios to the next level, providing Internet access to an array of
Wi-Fi-enabled devices that will further enhance the mobile user
experience."

Atheros AP Mode Technology Connects Up to Eight Wi-Fi Devices

Atheros AP Mode is capable of concurrently connecting as many as eight
Wi-Fi enabled devices in an open network environment, or up to six devices
in a secured network. The clients connect to the mobile handset in AP Mode
in the same way they would to a WLAN AP or router. AP Mode is supported
through firmware with critical operations implemented in silicon to
accelerate performance and avoid bottlenecks in overall network capacity.
With all the WLAN processing managed on the Atheros AR6002, the
industry-leading Wi-Fi solution for handsets and handheld devices, AP Mode
applications can be supported without taxing the mobile device's host
processor.

Expanded Platform Flexibility Enables Bandwidth Control

Atheros' flexible mobile platform allows manufacturers to configure
handsets with bandwidth ceilings that limit the amount of data that can be
sent and received via AP Mode at a given time. This design flexibility
allows carriers to support the AP Mode feature for mobile while providing
them with bandwidth control over their networks.

AP Mode Intersects Multiple Markets

Atheros AP Mode serves handsets and has also been introduced in innovative
products such as wireless travel modems. By simply turning on the Wi-Fi
switch, users can enjoy immediate access to a high-speed wireless
broadband network. Employing the new AP Mode, these devices can
automatically deliver Internet access to a variety of client devices
including PCs, game consoles, cameras, MP4 players and other mobile
phones.

In addition to enabling AP Mode in mobile markets, Atheros offers direct
connect functionality in its solutions for PCs and home consumer
electronics devices to provide enhanced connectivity options through
Wi-Fi. As such, Atheros' direct connect technology can be used to sync
Wi-Fi-enabled devices to support photo and application sharing,
multi-player gaming and address book updates.

Atheros AR6002 Supports Advanced Features

The widely adopted Atheros AR6002 family offers full-speed, hardware-based
security with the WPA(TM), WPA2(TM) and 802.11i standards, and supports
the industry-standardized Wi-Fi Protected Set-Up(TM) with Atheros
JumpStart for Wireless(TM). In addition, the AR6002 is fully compatible
with Cisco's Compatible Extensions (CCX) certification program -- to
deliver enhanced mobile experiences in enterprise applications. The
solution also provides a rich set of features to support voice and video
through polled QoS extensions (802.11e and WMM) and provides full driver
support for Windows Embedded CE(R), Windows Mobile(R), Linux(R) and
Android-based solutions.

About Atheros Communications, Inc.

Atheros Communications is a global leader in innovative technologies for
wireless and wired communications. Atheros combines its wireless and
networking systems expertise with high-performance radio frequency (RF),
mixed signal and digital semiconductor design skills to provide highly
integrated chipsets that are manufactured on low-cost, standard
complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processes. Atheros
technology is used by a broad base of leading customers, including
personal computer, networking equipment and consumer device
manufacturers. For more information, please visit http://www.atheros.com
or send email to info@atheros.com.

Atheros, the Atheros logo and ROCm are trademarks of Atheros
Communications, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are
the sole property of their respective owners.

FOMA and docomo PRIME series are trademarks or registered trademarks of
NTT DOCOMO, INC. in Japan and other countries. FOMA service is only
available in Japan.

NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set
forth in this press release, including the features, benefits and
performance of Atheros' and NEC's products, are forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially,
including, but not limited to, difficulties in the development of new and
enhanced products, general economic conditions, the effects of
competition and technological change, and the risks detailed in Atheros'
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 2008 and its
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in other reports
filed with the SEC by Atheros from time to time. These forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date hereof. Atheros disclaims any
obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Editorial Contacts:
Dakota Lee
Atheros Communications
408-720-5597
dakota@atheros.com

Greg Wood
A&R Edelman for Atheros
650-762-2838
gwood@ar-edelman.com

Investor Contact:
David Allen
Atheros Communications
408-830-5762
david.allen@atheros.com

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