SAN JOSE, CA--(Marketwire - Sep 24, 2012) - Marvell (NASDAQ: MRVL) and Micrel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCRL), an industry leader in high performance linear and power, clock and timing and LAN solutions, today announced the world's first fully interoperable IEEE 802.3 standard-compliant Ethernet PHY for in-vehicle networking. The two companies successfully demonstrated the technology at the recent Nikkei Electronics Symposium, which took place September 5, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan. With this newly proven solution, the automotive industry now can leverage the existing ecosystem of Ethernet networking applications for use in the next-generation of mission critical vehicle diagnostics, infotainment and connected-car platforms.

"As onboard networking grows more complex and more critical to an automaker's ability to differentiate itself, the auto industry has developed an acute need for standards-based networking solutions that can withstand the unique conditions and regulatory requirements for today's cars. With hundreds of onboard sensors that must connect to a central computer, and with Internet-connected infotainment systems that tie into a vehicle's primary operating structure, it is critical that auto manufacturers can reuse IEEE standards based silicon from high-volume markets to streamline development, production and cost-effective deployment," said Steve Dansey, vice president of Marvell's CSI business unit. "Our work with Micrel is testimony to both companies' market leadership and demonstrates yet another method in which Marvell offers total connectivity solutions for the planet's most vital platforms."

For several years, the automotive industry has been unable to use common Ethernet protocols for onboard networking. Legacy silicon does not meet stringent automotive emissions requirements, and the development of car-specific PHYs has been historically cost prohibitive. However, Micrel and Marvell's family of standard PHYs support speeds of up to 100 Mbps and run with less power and fewer emissions -- bringing them well within the desired specifications for the auto industry. Now automakers can take full advantage of the benefits of Ethernet protocol to develop the next-generation of in-vehicle networking architecture.

"Utilizing standard IEEE technology will allow the automotive industry to take full advantage of the vast existing foundation of Ethernet networking applications," noted Wiren Perera, vice president of Corporate Strategic Marketing, Micrel. "This new solution also provides immediate access to multiple other standards such as energy efficient Ethernet (EEE) for reduced power consumption and power over Ethernet (PoE) for transmission of power without requiring extra wires. We are very pleased to collaborate with Marvell on this ground breaking technology. Auto manufacturers now have the technology and solutions to build new systems that will change the way we drive."

ABI Research currently predicts global connected infotainment shipments will surpass 50 million units by 2017. In the same year, IMS Research predicts camera-aided driver assistance systems alone will number 34 million. Additionally, by 2025, the GSMA predicts every car will have Internet connectivity. Micrel and Marvell's innovations in Ethernet chipsets are designed to help automakers accelerate their deployment timelines and bring to market more robust, smarter and safer and a more enjoyable driving experience to automobile drivers around the world.

About Micrel, Inc.
Micrel, Inc. is a leading global manufacturer of IC solutions for the worldwide high performance linear and power, LAN and clock and timing markets. The Company's products include advanced mixed-signal, analog and power semiconductors; high performance communication, clock management, Ethernet switch and physical layer transceiver ICs. Company customers include leading manufacturers of enterprise, consumer, industrial, mobile, telecommunications, automotive, and computer products. Corporation headquarters and state-of-the-art wafer fabrication facilities are located in San Jose, CA, with regional sales and support offices and advanced technology design centers situated throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. In addition, the Company maintains an extensive network of distributors and reps worldwide. Web: http://www.micrel.com.

About Marvell
Marvell (NASDAQ: MRVL) is a world leader in the development of storage, communications and consumer silicon solutions. Marvell's diverse product portfolio includes switching, transceiver, communications controller, wireless and storage solutions that power the entire communications infrastructure, including enterprise, metro, home and storage networking. As used in this release, the term "Marvell" refers to Marvell Technology Group Ltd. and its subsidiaries. For more information, visit Marvell.com.

Note: Marvell and the M logo are registered trademarks of Marvell and/or its affiliates. Micrel is a registered trademark of Micrel, Inc. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.