July 9, 2001 – Allentown, PA – Agere Systems will streamline its sales operations and rely solely on a direct sales force to serve all of its US customers by forging closer, more strategic working relationships.

The company’s current model is a mix of direct sales force and manufacturing representative companies. Agere plans to transition to the new model by September 30, 2001.

“Moving to a purely direct sales force will allow us to better understand and address our customers’ needs,” commented George Holmes, VP of North American OEM sales. “We will be able to work closely with them to develop long-term strategic initiatives, which will benefit both Agere and our customers.”

Agere currently has relationships with 10 manufacturing representative companies. In some cases they are the sole interface between Agere and its customers. To ensure a minimal impact on its customers, the company will transition to a purely direct sales force over a period of three months.

During this period, Agere will add 65 people to its sales team to work with customers currently supported by the manufacturing representative companies.