RFMD's PowerSmart(TM) Wins Compound Semiconductor Industry's Most Innovative Device Award

GREENSBORO, N.C., March 29, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RF Micro Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq:RFMD), a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance radio frequency components and compound semiconductor technologies, today announced that Compound Semiconductor magazine has recognized the Company's PowerSmart™ power platform (RFRD6460) as the compound semiconductor industry's most innovative device of 2011. The award was presented on March 22, 2011, by Compound Semiconductor magazine during the 2011 CS Industry Awards in Frankfurt, Germany.

RFMD's revolutionary PowerSmart power platforms feature an RF Configurable Power Core™ that delivers multiband, multi-mode coverage of all cellular communications modulation schemes, up to 4G LTE 64QAM. PowerSmart power platforms also include all necessary switching and signal conditioning functionality in a compact reference design, providing leading device manufacturers a single scalable source for the entire cellular front end.

The exceptional design flexibility of RFMD's PowerSmart power platforms enables designers of smartphones and tablets to eliminate months of development time and cover broader segments of the market with a single design, while saving considerably on size, current consumption and R&D cost, versus competitive offerings.

Bob Bruggeworth, president and CEO of RFMD, said, "We are extremely pleased that Compound Semiconductor magazine has recognized RFMD's PowerSmart as the compound semiconductor industry's most innovative device of 2011. RFMD is sharply focused on expanding our leadership in compound semiconductors into multiple markets, and we believe PowerSmart is at the forefront of a technology shift to converged front ends in multi-mode, multiband smartphones.

"In addition to our GaAs-based PowerSmart technology, RFMD's efforts in GaAs-based concentrated photovoltaics and GaN-based high power amplifiers are serving to extend the role of compound semiconductors in the world's fastest growing markets."

" Compound Semiconductor is proud of the CS Industry Awards and the overwhelming response from the compound semiconductor industry," said Richard Stevenson, Editor. "We feel it is important to highlight the technological achievements within the industry, such as RFMD's PowerSmart. These categories and products represent key areas of innovation in the chip manufacturing process."

RFMD recently commenced volume production shipments of the RFRD6460 PowerSmart power platform in support of the Samsung Galaxy S 2 family of 3G/4G smartphones and tablets and the LG Optimus 3D. The Company has a strong intellectual property position in support of PowerSmart, with multiple patent applications in process.