RF Micro Devices® Press Release -  September 29, 2009

RFMD's Gallium Nitride (GaN) Process Technology Demonstrates Industry-Leading Reliability Performance

RFMD Anticipates Initial Production Revenue Related to 4G LTE
to Commence in the Second Half of Fiscal 2010


RFMDGREENSBORO, N.C., Sept. 29, 2009 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) --  RF Micro Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq:RFMD), a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance semiconductor components, today announced that it has successfully demonstrated industry-leading reliability performance with its high-power Gallium Nitride (GaN) process technology.

RFMD's GaN technology demonstrated MTTF = 30 million hours at a channel temperature of 200 degrees Celsius at Vds=48V and at a power density of 7.5 W/mm. MTTF (Mean Time To Failure) is a commonly used measure of process technology reliability. This is the highest MTTF reported for GaN HEMT reliability testing for operation at 48 V bias and power density of 7.5 W/mm. The activation energy for this process was Ea= 2.3eV.

Bob Van Buskirk, president of RFMD's Multi-Market Products Group, said, "The superior level of reliability of RFMD's high-performance GaN technology enables the design of highly reliable, high performance RF power products and allows our customers to design GaN-based products that meet or exceed their stringent system reliability specifications."

Van Buskirk added, "RFMD GaN technology furthers the industry's drive for "green technology" by enabling advanced RF components and products that operate at significantly lower power consumption levels."

RFMD successfully completed the process qualification of its high power GaN HEMT and announced the formation of its GaN Foundry Services business unit in June 2009. RFMD's GaN Foundry Services business unit was established to supply RFMD's high-reliability, high-performance and price-competitive GaN semiconductor technology into multiple RF power markets. To date, several leading customers are preparing designs using RFMD's GaN process design kit (PDK) in anticipation of RFMD's initial multi-project GaN wafer runs, scheduled for October 2009.

Additionally, RFMD has scheduled subsequent multi-project GaN wafer runs on a monthly basis to meet the increasing customer demand.



About RFMD
 
RF Micro Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq GS: RFMD) is a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance semiconductor components. RFMD's products enable worldwide mobility, provide enhanced connectivity and support advanced functionality in the cellular handset, wireless infrastructure, wireless local area network (WLAN), CATV/broadband and aerospace and defense markets. RFMD is recognized for its diverse portfolio of semiconductor technologies and RF systems expertise and is a preferred supplier to the world's leading mobile device, customer premises and communications equipment providers.

Headquartered in Greensboro, N.C., RFMD is an ISO 9001- and ISO 14001-certified manufacturer with worldwide engineering, design, sales and service facilities. RFMD is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol RFMD. For more information, please visit RFMD's web site at
www.rfmd.com.
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives, representations and contentions and are not historical facts and typically are identified by use of terms such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue" and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. You should be aware that the forward-looking statements included herein represent management's current judgment and expectations, but our actual results, events and performance could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. We do not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements or publicly announce the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements, other than as is required under the federal securities laws. RF Micro Devices' business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including variability in quarterly operating results, the impact of global macroeconomic and credit conditions on our business, the rate of growth and development of wireless markets, risks associated with our planned exit from our wireless systems business, including cellular transceivers and GPS solutions, the risk that restructuring charges may be greater than originally anticipated and that the cost savings and other benefits from the restructuring may not be achieved, risks associated with the operation of our wafer fabrication facilities, molecular beam epitaxy facility, assembly facility and test and tape and reel facilities, our ability to complete acquisitions and integrate acquired companies, including the risk that we may not realize expected synergies from our business combinations, our ability to attract and retain skilled personnel and develop leaders, variability in production yields, our ability to reduce costs and improve gross margins by implementing innovative technologies, our ability to bring new products to market, our ability to adjust production capacity in a timely fashion in response to changes in demand for our products, dependence on a limited number of customers, and dependence on third parties. These and other risks and uncertainties, which are described in more detail in RF Micro Devices' most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause actual results and developments to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any of these forward-looking statements.




CONTACTS:
 

Doug DeLieto
VP, Investor Relations
+1-336-678-7968,
or Jerry Neal
Executive Vice President
+1-336-678-7001, both of RFMD
Web Site: http://www.rfmd.com










Posted 9/29/2009