Oslo, Norway - November 9, 2006 - Nordic Semiconductor ASA (OSE: NOD) today announced that Cardo Systems Inc. has now extended the feature range of its market leading scala-riderTM cell phone-to-rider Bluetooth motorcycle helmet to include a rider-to-passenger communication variant called the scala-rider TeamSet.

The TeamSet employs Nordic Semiconductor's nRF24E1 2.4GHz transceiver and enables 3-way cell phone calls between caller, passenger and rider, as well as passenger-to-rider comms. The Bluetooth cell phone calls and rider-to-passenger wireless voice comms can be initiated and terminated by hands-free voice activation alone.

"We selected the Nordic nRF24E1 after extensive trials because of its competitive cost, ultra-low power consumption and ability to deliver crystal-clear, interference-free, 2-way voice comms even while the rider was receiving a wireless cell phone voice call over Bluetooth on the same 2.4 GHz ISM band," explains Mr. Glezerman, CEO of Cardo Systems.

In operation, the Nordic transceiver sits alongside a Bluetooth transceiver that is used to handle cell phone to headset communication. Because Bluetooth and nRF24E1 transceivers operate in the same 2.4 GHz ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) band, Cardo Systems was able to mount both on a single circuit board.

"Naturally, getting two 2.4 GHz technologies to operate seamlessly next to each other was not an easy task," continues Glezerman. "But the cooperation between Cardo System's and Nordic Semiconductor's engineering teams made it not only possible, but a very educational and mutually rewarding development process.

"As a result of this successful co-development project, motorcycle bikers can now conduct mobile phone conversations alongside rider-to-passenger communication. The Nordic nRF24E1 transceiver has allowed us to make a great product even better."

About the scala-rider TeamSet
The scala-rider TeamSet solution offers the following key features:

- Designed and engineered for heavy-duty use and  
  performance 
- Receive, initiate and reject calls by voice control (subject to cell phone capabilities)
- Two-way radio between rider and passenger (INTERCOM/rider-to-passenger communication) 
- Enables 3-way cell phone calls between caller, driver and passenger using the nRF24E1 and Bluetooth simultaneously
- Weather protected headset fits open-faced and full helmets
- Self-installation of entire system within 5 minutes, leaving no traces on helmet
- HIB (High Impact Balancing) microphone for high speed conditions 
- AGC Technology automatically self-adjusts speaker volume according to ambient noise level and driving speed
- VOX technology provides voice-controlled receiving and rejecting of incoming calls
- Rechargeable batteries deliver up to 7 hours of talktime

The scala-rider TeamSet solution is globally distributed.

About the nRF24E1
The nRF24E1 is a 2.4-GHz, single chip, true GFSK transceiver with embedded 8051 compatible microcontroller and 9-channel, 12-bit, 100 kSample/s ADC and 1 Mbit/s maximum data rate. It comes pre-integrated with all necessary peripherals, inductors and filters and requires only three external components: a crystal, resistor and low cost 4-KByte EEPROM (for initial program storage).

The nRF24E1 also features DuoCeiver" technology for simultaneous dual receiver topologies and a ShockBurst" mode for ultra low-power operation and relaxed MCU performance. Power supply range is 1.9 to 3.6 V, supply current is just 10.5 mA peak (TX) at -5 dBm output power at full 1 Mbit/s, and 19 mA peak (RX) in receive mode (one channel at 1 Mbit/s). In complete system standby (sleep) mode (wake up from timer or external pin) the nRF24E1 consumers just 2 µA.
 
The nRF24E1 is supplied in a small 36-pin QFN 6 x 6 mm package and supports frequency hopping across up to 125 channels with a sub-200 µs switching time, including clock recovery of data plus CRC computation in receive (RX) mode. Operating temperature range is -40 to +85 ºC.

Prime applications include wireless mouse, keyboards and joysticks/gamepads, remote controllers, alarm and security systems, phone peripherals, PC peripherals, home and building automation, telemetry, wireless tags, intelligent sports equipment (e.g. wrist watches and associated sensors), industrial sensors and toys.

About Cardo
Cardo Systems Inc. (www.cardowireless.com), headquartered in the USA with offices in Germany and Israel, designs and develops innovative wireless products for the international consumer electronics market. Cardo's engineering team specializes in Bluetooth devices, and in particular in the design and development of headsets and related products. The company also develops hardware and software solutions for OEM projects. All of Cardo's products undergo rigorous testing and quality assurance procedures to ensure robust field reliability.

Cardo maintains a full time sales force and customer support staff for end-users and resellers. The company sells its products mainly through prime distribution channels, but also to a substantial number of retail outlets and national chains world-wide.

About Nordic Semiconductor ASA
Nordic Semiconductor (formerly Nordic VLSI) is a Norwegian fabless semiconductor company focusing on delivering world-best wireless communication solutions in the license-free ISM bands. The company, which was originally founded in 1983 as a traditional ASIC design house, produces both standard products and custom SoCs. It also offers development services for other companies to access its world leading, in-house RF/mixed-signal design and advanced back-end/physical engineering expertise.

The company's innovative range of wireless solutions includes:

- The nRF905 single-chip multiband radio transceiver for the 433-, 868- or 915-MHz ISM band;
- The nRF9E5 low-cost, single-chip system with fully integrated RF transceiver for the 433-, 868- or 915-MHz ISM band;
- The nRF2401A and nRF2402 compact, lowest cost, lowest current consumption and low voltage supply 2.4-GHz RF transceivers; 
- The nRF24E1 and nRF24E2 low cost transceivers paired with the industry standard 8051 MCU core, and leading peripherals to create the world's first complete low cost SoC's for global 2.4 GHz operation;
- The nRF24Z1 single chip system for CD quality audio streaming of up to 16 bit, 48 kHz audio;
- The nRF24AP1 ultra-low power 2.4 GHz transceiver for wireless communication with Dynastream Innovation's production-proven low-power network protocol, ANT;
- The nRF24L01 ultra-low cost and power 2.4 GHz transceiver with MultiCeiver technology supporting up to six simultaneous wireless devices.

Nordic Semiconductor nRF24xx range of 2.4GHz-transceiver and transmitter devices are aimed at applications such as wireless audio (e.g. MP3 and portable CD player headphones and PC speakers), gamepads, keyboards/mice and intelligent sports equipment. The latest nRF24L01 family, for instance, is targeted at ultra-low cost and power applications such as wireless desktops and intelligent (e.g. wristwatch-based) sports equipment.

Nordic is also a member of the Wibree forum, and has contributed core expertise in ultra-low power RF design to the technology. Wibree is a short range RF communication technology featuring ultra-low power consumption, a lightweight protocol stack and simple integration with Bluetooth. Wibree ushers in the next generation of RF communications by opening up many new opportunities for wireless data links between suitably equipped mobile phones or personal computers (PCs) and coin cell battery-powered devices such as sports and health sensors. (See www.wibree.nordicsemi.no.)
 
The custom/consulting services division derives its revenue from working with specific customers to integrate Nordic's wireless solutions into customer ASICs. Nordic often then continues to manufacture the chip in the long-term for the customer.

The data conversion business area develops and sells IP for use within in-house projects, third-party ASIC design and standard products. The products are leading edge ADCs and DACs for use in areas such as digital photography, WLANs and video.

Nordic's products are all manufactured in ultra modern semiconductor process technologies through strong relationships with world-best manufacturing facilities. Sales are primarily made through a carefully selected worldwide distribution network. The company has offices in Trondheim and Oslo, Norway, the US, Hong Kong, Korea and Japan, and is listed on the Norwegian Stock Exchange (OSX: NOD). All operations are managed according to the ISO 9001:2000-approved quality assurance system.
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