FIRECOMMS LAUNCHES GIGABIT TRANSCEIVER FOR LOW-COAST LINKS OVER POF

Cork, Ireland - December 17, 2007 - Firecomms today announces the release of a fully integrated gigabit transceiver that will enable low-cost, gigabit links over Plastic Optical Fiber (POF). Based on the company’s proprietary VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) technology, this low power transceiver is capable of delivering data over POF at rates up to 1.25 Gbps, and is pin compatible with 1x9 optical transceivers for glass fiber.

Fitted with OptoLock™, a plugless interconnect that allows for quick connection of bare POF, Firecomms’ new transceiver is composed of a red VCSEL and a receiver designed specifically for POF applications. Because it emits visible light, this new transceiver enhances safety and simplifies set-up and test procedures, while its industrial standard transceiver footprint provides an easy drop-in replacement solution to enable communication over POF with low-cost, consumer-friendly connectors.

"This is the first time a Gigabit transceiver which emits visible light - the preferred wavelength for POF - is available on the market," says Firecomms CEO Declan O'Mahoney. "Because POF is as easy to work with as speaker wire and is immune to electrical interference, we expect to see a major demand for this transceiver in 1394 FireWire networks and in Gigabit Ethernet networks worldwide."

Firecomms will demonstrate this groundbreaking product in an IEEE 1394 home networking application on the HANA booth in LVCC Meeting Rooms, N119-N120 at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on January 7 through 10 (www.cesweb.org).

Firecomms leads the development of devices to drive POF, a low-cost optical alternative to copper cabling. Due to its ease of use, large core tolerances, and low costs, POF is enjoying a huge growth in a wide range of applications. Created for consumer, industrial, and automotive applications in which plastic fiber can be used more easily and at lower cost than copper or glass fiber, POF is now used in millions of small area networks, such as those in use in many car models, and is rapidly gaining ground in home network and point-to-point interconnection.

Firecomms new Gigabit transceiver, EDL1000G-510, is currently shipping and can be ordered through Firecomms’ sales organization (sales@firecomms.com) in Japan, USA and Europe.

About Firecomms Ltd.

Firecomms, a compound semiconductor company, develops high-speed light sources in visible range wavelengths. Firecomms' lasers and LEDs provide the groundwork that will revolutionize optical data communications for small area networks, such as in-car networks and home networks. Firecomms’ low power visible lasers unleash the potential for advances in medical devices, barcode scanners, and optical storage devices.

The Ireland-based company leverages its ten years of photonics research experience, optical expertise, and extensive IP portfolio to develop cost-effective solutions for applications in which the use of glass fiber optics is prohibitively expensive. Additional information about Firecomms is available at www.firecomms.com.

OptoLock is a trademark of Firecomms Ltd.

Further Information:

Rene' Williams
Firecomms Ltd.
Tel. 949.360.7770
rene@firecomms.com