SAN JOSE, California, June 12 /PRNewswire/ --

Micrel Inc. (Nasdaq: MCRL), an industry leader in analog, high bandwidth communications and Ethernet IC solutions, today launched the KSZ8842-PMBL, KSZ8841-16MBL, KSZ8842-16MBL and KSZ8893MBL. Each new product is currently available in volume quantities and comes in a 9mm x 9mm, 100-ball FBGA package. The devices are Micrel's latest members of its embedded controller family and 3-port switches, all offering small footprint, secure IC-to-ICs over the PCB and ease of manufacturing. The ICs are ideal for numerous Ethernet applications in the Automotive, Ethernet switching and Industrial Ethernet arenas and complement the traditional solutions offered in a QFP package. For specific pricing, please contact the factory directly. Samples can now be ordered on line on Micrel's web site at: http://www.micrel.com/ProductList.do.

"Industry requirements continue to change rapidly in all markets including the industrial and automotive arenas," noted Richard Bowers, Micrel's director of marketing for Ethernet. "Micrel's new devices now come packaged in FBGA, offering a secure solution in a smaller footprint necessary to meet end users' evolving requirements."

The KSZ8842PMBL is a 2-port switch with a PCI interface to the host/CPU. It can be configured as a low-latency repeater to allow for 'cut thru' in latency-critical Embedded or Industrial Ethernet applications. It is the Company's proven, fourth generation, integration Layer-2 switch that is also fully compliant with the IEEE802.3u standard. The KSZ8841-16MBL is a single port, mixed-signal controller device offering Wake-on-LAN technology for addressing Fast Ethernet applications. It consists of a fast Ethernet MAC controller, 8-bit/ 16-bit, generic host processor interaction and incorporates a unique dynamic and fully utilizable 8KB buffer memory for both TX and RX directions in the host buffer interface.

The KSZ8842-16MBL is a 2-port switch with 8 and 16-bit generic host interface to the external CPU. Entirely compliant with the IEEE802.3u standard, the device can also be configured as a low-latency repeater to allow for 'cut thru' in latency critical Embedded or Industrial Ethernet applications. In Industrial applications, the solution runs in half-duplex mode.

Finally, the KSZ8893MBL is a highly integrated Layer-2 managed, high-speed non-blocking switch that contains two patented mixed-signal, low power technology 10/100 transceivers and three MAC (Media Access Control) units. Designed for low port count, cost-sensitive 10/100 Mbps switch systems, it offers an extensive feature set that includes rate limiting, tag/port-based VLAN, QoS priority, MIB counters, RMII/MII/SNI and CPU control/data interfaces to effectively address both current and emerging fast Ethernet applications.

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

Julieanne DiBene, Marketing Communications of Micrel Inc., +1-408-474-1276, Julie.DiBene@Micrel.com