Broadcom FASTPATH(R) Networking Software Enables Professional-Grade Features at Affordable Prices for Small Business Networks

IRVINE, Calif. (Map) - IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq: BRCM), a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced the fifth-generation of FASTPATH(R) networking software, highlighting Broadcom's commitment to delivering best-in-class networking solutions and the successful integration of its acquisition of LVL7 Systems, Inc. The combination of Broadcom(R) Ethernet switching silicon and production-ready FASTPATH networking software enables equipment manufacturers to deliver professional-grade features, such as VoIP and security, at affordable price points for the small-to-medium-sized business (SMB) market.

Broadcom completed the acquisition of LVL7 in January 2007, combining market leading Broadcom(R) Ethernet switching silicon with the widely adopted FASTPATH networking software. The new FASTPATH v5.0 release introduces two new products to the FASTPATH solution portfolio: FASTPATH SMB and SmartPATH(TM) software. These new software solutions enable high quality, next generation networking solutions for the SMB market with significantly improved time-to-market, reduced development costs and minimized risk.

"With the introduction of the FASTPATH SMB and SmartPATH solutions, Broadcom is demonstrating its leadership in Ethernet switching by providing innovative technology and faster time-to-market to our customers," said Martin Lund, Vice President and General Manager of Broadcom's Network Switching Business Unit. "Unmanaged switch ports will continue to transition to managed SMB ports over the next several years, and with FASTPATH SMB and SmartPATH software, Broadcom is well-positioned to grow its SMB networking presence."

Product Information

FASTPATH SMB software is designed for small-to-medium-sized businesses that require robust layer 2 switches with industry-standard management support, including CLI (command line interface), SNMP (simple network management protocol), and Web-based interfaces. SmartPATH software is focused on enabling "smart" switches for SMB environments without IT staff, where intuitive, easy-to-use web management and simple installation greatly simplify operations. Innovative features, such as voice-aware system configuration and protection from denial-of-service attacks, provide SMBs professional-grade capabilities at an affordable price.

The tight coupling of Broadcom's Ethernet switching silicon with FASTPATH software optimizes the quality, stability, and value OEMs require in their products. The new software offerings extend Broadcom's broad array of production-ready networking solutions and enable its OEM customers to rapidly grow their product lines in the SMB market segment.

Availability and Pricing

FASTPATH 5.0 networking software, including FASTPATH SMB and SmartPATH software, is now available. Pricing is available upon request.

About Broadcom

Broadcom Corporation is a major technology innovator and global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications. Broadcom(R) products enable the delivery of voice, video, data and multimedia to and throughout the home, the office and the mobile environment. We provide the industry's broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art, system-on-a-chip and software solutions to manufacturers of computing and networking equipment, digital entertainment and broadband access products, and mobile devices. These solutions support our core mission: Connecting everything(R).

Broadcom is one of the world's largest fabless semiconductor companies, with 2006 revenue of $3.67 billion, and holds over 2,300 U.S. and 1,000 foreign patents, more than 7,100 additional pending patent applications, and one of the broadest intellectual property portfolios addressing both wired and wireless transmission of voice, video and data.

Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and has offices and research facilities in North America, Asia and Europe. Broadcom may be contacted at +1.949.926.5000 or at www.broadcom.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

All statements included or incorporated by reference in this release, other than statements or characterizations of historical fact, are forward- looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry and business, management's beliefs, and certain assumptions made by us, all of which are subject to change. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "would," "could," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statement.

Important factors that may cause such a difference for Broadcom in connection with FASTPATH networking software products include, but are not limited to, general economic and political conditions and specific conditions in the markets we address, including the volatility in the technology sector and semiconductor industry, trends in the broadband communications markets in various geographic regions, including seasonality in sales of consumer products into which our products are incorporated, and possible disruption in commercial activities related to terrorist activity or armed conflict in the United States and other locations; the rate at which our present and future customers and end-users adopt Broadcom's technologies and products in the markets for small-to-medium-size-business networking applications; delays in the adoption and acceptance of industry standards in those markets; the timing, rescheduling or cancellation of significant customer orders and our ability, as well as the ability of our customers, to manage inventory; the gain or loss of a key customer, design win or order; our ability to scale our operations in response to changes in demand for our existing products and services or demand for new products requested by our customers; our ability to specify, develop or acquire, complete, introduce, market and transition to volume production new products and technologies in a cost-effective and timely manner; intellectual property disputes and customer indemnification claims and other types of litigation risk; changes in our product or customer mix; the volume of our product sales and pricing concessions on volume sales; the effectiveness of our expense and product cost control and reduction efforts; the quality of our products and any remediation costs; our ability to timely and accurately predict market requirements and evolving industry standards and to identify opportunities in new markets; problems or delays that we may face in shifting our products to smaller geometry process technologies and in achieving higher levels of design integration; our ability to retain, recruit and hire key executives, technical personnel and other employees in the positions and numbers, with the experience and capabilities, and at the compensation levels needed to implement our business and product plans; the risks and uncertainties associated with our international operations; competitive pressures and other factors such as the qualification, availability and pricing of competing products and technologies and the resulting effects on sales and pricing of our products; the timing of customer-industry qualification and certification of our products and the risks of non-qualification or non-certification; the availability and pricing of third party semiconductor foundry, assembly and test capacity and raw materials; fluctuations in the manufacturing yields of our third party semiconductor foundries and other problems or delays in the fabrication, assembly, testing or delivery of our products; the risks of producing products with new suppliers and at new fabrication and assembly facilities; the effects of natural disasters, public health emergencies, international conflicts and other events beyond our control; the level of orders received that can be shipped in a fiscal quarter; and other factors.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss the foregoing risks as well as other important risk factors that could contribute to such differences or otherwise affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. The forward-looking statements in this release speak only as of this date. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement for any reason.

Broadcom(R), the pulse logo, Connecting everything(R), the Connecting everything logo, FASTPATH(R) and SmartPATH(TM) are among the trademarks of Broadcom Corporation and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.