Agere Systems Announces Complete GPRS Wireless Software Solution for Enabling New Multimedia Handset Designs

Agere has selected esmertec's Java(TM) software technology to enable advanced mobile phone applications such as video games, instant messaging, news and other information. In addition, Openwave is providing Agere with wireless application protocol (WAP) browser capabilities and differentiated multimedia messaging services (MMS) such as photo messaging, graphics, mapping, and location-based services. Java, WAP and MMS are part of Agere's total software platform which, combined with Agere's GPRS chip sets and reference designs, give handset manufacturers the core GPRS capabilities to get to market quickly.

"Whether through internal development or strategic licensing agreements, Agere is focused on delivering the best and most comprehensive GPRS hardware and software solutions available for mobile phone manufacturers," said Luc Seraphin, vice president of Agere's mobile terminals division. "Applications are what sell handsets, and our collaboration with these two software providers gives our mobile phone customers a range of proven software to select for creating high-performance, fully featured multimedia and messaging phones."

Openwave is providing Agere with its latest Openwave(R) Mobile Browser and the new Mobile Messaging client v.6 that enables differentiated multimedia messaging services. Openwave is the leading independent provider of open software products and services for the mobile communications industry.

"We seek to radically improve the phone user experience with the new Openwave Mobile Messaging Client by offering easily integrated, easily accessed, and world-hardened MMS software across a wide variety of handsets and operators," said Thomas Reardon, vice president and general manager, Openwave. "Agere now has a full suite of software applications bundled with their world-class chipset solutions, letting phone manufacturers easily deploy messaging devices across GPRS markets globally."

Agere's solution supports WAP version 2.0, providing access to information and interactive services through existing Internet technologies and protocols such as TCP/IP and HTTP. Content formats like XHTML, CHTML or WML as well as pictures in JPEG or GIF formats provide a rich, colorful user experience. MMS enables mobile phones to send and receive messages with text, sounds and images.

Esmertec's Jbed(TM) ME software is the fastest Java virtual machine available for mobile phones using the least amount of memory, and is the most popular solution currently deployed on mobile data platforms and mass market phones. Java is a universal programming language used to develop innovative data-centric mobile phone features and customized 'look and feel' designs.

"As the leading global supplier of embedded Java virtual machines, esmertec offers software solutions that are tailored to enable advanced multimedia services on 2.5G mass market data platforms, giving Agere's handset customers the programming flexibility required to implement leading-edge, Java-based applications," said Alain Blancquart, CEO of esmertec.

Agere's complete GPRS software solution also offers key features for mobile users including predictive text, which reduces handset key entry, and voice recognition capabilities for dialing and information storage. These applications complement Agere's high-performance protocol stack and man- machine interface software for managing core processing and creating the 'look and feel' aspects of a phone. Agere's software platform is extremely flexible, allowing mobile phone manufacturers to develop a portfolio of products that offer a wide variety of features and customized design elements.

Agere's GPRS software solutions are currently being shipped as part of several chip set and reference design platforms for mobile phone manufacturers.

For more information, customers may visit Agere's Web site at www.agere.com or contact one of Agere's regional sales offices. Customers in the U.S. may also call the Agere Systems Customer Response Center at 1-800-372-2447. Customers in Canada may call 1-800-553-2448. Customers outside those countries may call +1-610-712-4323. Fax inquiries may be directed to +1 610 712 4106, or email queries to docmaster@agere.com. Written inquiries should be sent to Agere Systems, Room 10A-301C, 1110 American Parkway NE, Lehigh Valley Central Campus, Allentown, PA, 18109, USA.

Agere Systems is a premier provider of advanced integrated circuit solutions for wireless data, high-density storage and multiservice networking applications. Agere's wireless data portfolio enables seamless network access and Internet connectivity through its GPRS offering for data-capable cellular phones, as well as Wi-Fi/802.11 solutions for wireless LANs and computing applications. The company is the market leader in providing integrated circuits such as read-channel chips, preamplifiers and system-on-a-chip solutions for high-density storage applications. Agere also provides custom and standard multiservice networking solutions to move information across wired, wireless and enterprise networks. Agere's customers include the leading PC manufacturers, wireless terminal providers, network equipment suppliers and hard-disk drive providers. More information about Agere Systems is available from its web site at http://www.agere.com/.

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 the 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, satisfactory outcome of our union contract negotiations, the impact of any global or regional health epidemic such as severe acute respiratory syndrome, keeping pace with technological change, dependence on new product development, price and product competition, availability of manufacturing capacity, customer demand for our products and services, general industry and market conditions, timely completion of employment reductions and other restructuring and consolidation activities, limits on our ability to issue equity to raise capital and reliance on major customers and suppliers. For a further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002, and our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2003. 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, +1-610-712-1747, Cell - +1-610-217-0781,
glenhaley@agere.com, or JoAnna Schooler, +1-610-712-1746, Cell -
+1-908-283-4060, jschooler@agere.com, both of Agere Systems

Web site: http://www.agere.com/