National Semiconductor Joins Internet Home Alliance to Fuel Growth of Home Technology Market

Leading Provider of Information Appliance Technology to Aid Alliance's Delivery of Internet Lifestyle Solutions

Santa Clara, CA -- 8/2/2001 -- National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE: NSM), the technology leader enabling the emergence of information appliances, today joined Internet Home Alliance, a non-profit association of high-tech and consumer companies dedicated to enhancing consumers' understanding, appreciation and adoption of the Internet Lifestyle. Through its relationship with Internet Home Alliance, National Semiconductor will help grow the home technology market by providing easy, instant and convenient access to the Internet for consumers.

"The goal of the Alliance is in line with National's strategy for its industry-leading Geode™ technology optimized for information appliances: To provide wired or wireless Internet access solutions to consumers anytime, anywhere," said Michael Polacek, vice president of Information Appliance division at National Semiconductor. "The Alliance gives us an excellent opportunity to work with other market leaders to make the Internet a catalyst to enrich consumers' different lifestyles through easy-to-use and affordable information appliances."

Founded in October 2000, Internet Home Alliance is an open alliance focused on catalyzing the home technology industry and fueling mass adoption of connected technology by focusing on solving consumer dilemmas through the Internet Lifestyle.

"The Alliance is pleased to add National Semiconductor to our roster of leading companies that have come together to drive the industry forward," commented Bill Kenney, president, Internet Home Alliance, and vice president, emerging home solutions at Sears, Roebuck and Co. "With its expertise in information appliance technology, National is vital to the development of comprehensive Internet Lifestyle solutions that deliver real value to consumers. We look forward to National's active involvement in the Alliance and its contributions to accelerating adoption of the Internet Lifestyle."

About Internet Home Alliance, Inc.
Internet Home Alliance, Inc. is a non-profit association of leading companies working together to advance the home technology industry by developing the ecosystem needed to support the delivery of home technology solutions and educating consumers on the value of an Internet Lifestyle. Internet Home Alliance is an open alliance that encourages cross-industry participation. Currently, 31 companies participate in the Alliance. Principal members include Best Buy Co., Inc., Cisco Systems, Inc., General Motors, Invensys, The NewPower Company, Panasonic (Matsushita Electric Corporation of America), Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Sun Microsystems. For more information on Internet Home Alliance, visit www.internethomealliance.com.

About National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor is the premier analog company driving the information age. Combining real-world analog and state-of-the-art digital technology, the company is focused on the fast growing markets for wireless handsets; information appliances; information infrastructure; and display, imaging and human interface technologies. With headquarters in Santa Clara, California, National reported sales of $2.1 billion for fiscal year 2001 and employs about 9,700 people worldwide.