INITIO ANNOUNCES FIRST SINGLE-CHIP FIREWIRE800-TO-ATA-7 BRIDGING DEVICE TO COMBINE UDMA133, 100MB/s TRANSFERS

INIC-2430 Provides Key Performance Features to High-End Storage-Intensive Applications

SUNNYVALE, Calif. – June 3, 2003 – Initio Corp., a leading maker of input/output (I/O) solutions for storage systems and peripherals, today announced the industry’s first FireWire800-to-ATA-7 bridging device that blends key performance features – UltraDMA (UDMA)133, 100MB/s read and right transfer rates, and hardware RAID support – into a single, integrated device.

Featuring an integrated FireWire800 core, ARM microprocessor and ATA interface, the new Initio® INIC™-2430 was designed to deliver all the necessary FireWire800 I/O components in a single chip.  The INIC-2430 delivers full FireWire800 and ATA-7 speed support, while allowing drive and enclosure makers flexibility in evolving their designs to include industry-proven USB interface via chips from leading third-party manufacturer such as Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN), Cypress Semiconductor (NYSE: CY) and NEC (NASDAQ: NIPNY).

Available in production this month, the INIC-2430 provides data rates essential to next-generation drives used in high-end applications, such as audio/video (A/V) editing.  Storage solutions based on the INIC-2430 realize full FireWire800 and ATA-7 speeds (800MB/s and 133MB/s, respectively), as well as dual-channel RAID 0,1 support, which is critical for A/V applications.

“Initio’s partners have recognized the significance FireWire800 and ATA-7 technology – and their inherent performance features -- will play in next-generation storage systems,” said Eric Wilson, vice president of business development at Initio.  "The INIC-2430 empowers these systems to reach their full potential and deliver the performance demanded by emerging storage applications."

“We’re pleased to partner with Initio on developing the physical layer to work with the INIC-2430,” said Bob Welch, worldwide strategic marketing manager at Texas Instruments.  “We’re eager to help advance FireWire800 and ATA-7 in the storage arena.”

History of Leadership, Innovation

Initio has been an I/O leader since its founding in 1994, providing the computer and networking markets with a family of innovative ASICs.  Since then, the company has established itself in North America, Europe and the Asia/Pacific region as a leader in I/O solutions, providing some of the fastest data throughput in the computer and networking industries.  Initio entered the FireWire I/O market in 2000, with its first fully functional single-chip controllers and has since expanded the line for a broad range of storage and consumer applications.

Availability and Pricing

The INIC-2430 will be available in 144-pin QFP and 144-pin BGA packages for under $10 in volume quantity.  Contact Initio Corp. at 408.331.0560 or 800.99INITIO (800.994-6486).

Initio Corp. (www.initio.com) is a privately held maker of input/output solutions for the information-technology industry.  Founded in 1994, Initio is based in Sunnyvale, Calif. 

Initio and INIC are trademarks of Initio Corporation, which may be registered in some jurisdictions.   All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

Editorial contact:
Jerry Steach
CommonGround Communications (for Initio Corp.) 650.967.3071
jsteach@pacbell.net