SAN JOSE, California, July 17 /PRNewswire/ --

- New Device Features Industry-First Fast Ethernet Controller with SPI 
Interface

Micrel Inc., (Nasdaq: MCRL), an industry leader in analog, high bandwidth
communications and Ethernet IC solutions, today launched the KSZ8851, a
single-port embedded controller chip with 8/16/32-bit and SPI host
interfaces. The high throughput device is pin compatible with Micrel's
KSZ8841 and KSZ8842 product families and ideal for a wide variety of Ethernet
applications in the IPSTB, VoIP, and Industrial Ethernet markets. The device
will be available in production quantities in Q3 2008, and is priced at
US$4.00 for 1K quantities.

"With more than 250 Million ports shipped since 1999, Ethernet continues
to require higher and higher throughput devices," noted Richard Bowers,
Micrel's director of marketing for Ethernet. "Micrel's new KSZ8851 gives
existing customers the industry's highest throughput embedded controller that
also features Industry support for SPI interface (32-pin QFN) and a small
package option for generic bus interface (48-pin LQFP)."

The KSZ8851 integrates a Fast Ethernet MAC/PHY with an 8/16/32-bit
generic host processor interface and SPI interface. The device has 18KB of
internal buffer memory shared between the RXQ and TXQ. The buffer memory on
the receive queue is 12KB, while the buffer memory for the transmit queue is
6KB. Pin compatible with Micrel's existing KSZ8841MQL and KSZ8842MQL
families, the device offers performance at 80Mbps or higher. The solution
supports both Big-Endian and Little-Endian processors as well as IPv4/IPv6
checksum generation and checking. These features greatly reduce CPU usage and
improve overall system performance. The KSZ8851 also gives designers an
enhanced power management feature with energy detect mode, programmable IO
options of 3.3V/2.5V/1.8V and an industrial temperature range of -40-degC to
+85-degC. Finally, the device comes in a variety of package options including
128-pin PQFP, 48-pin LQFP and 32-pin QFN.

About Micrel, Inc.

Micrel Inc., is a leading global manufacturer of IC solutions for the
worldwide analog, Ethernet and high bandwidth 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.

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