GREENSBORO, N.C., March 15, 2010 (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 it has successfully manufactured the
industry's first photovoltaic cell using high-volume six-inch gallium
arsenide (GaAs) machinery. The photovoltaic (PV) cell was manufactured
in RFMD's existing high-volume, six-inch GaAs wafer fabrication
facilities in Greensboro, NC, with no fabrication equipment
modifications. This achievement represents the first in a series of
milestone achievements anticipated by RFMD related to the
commercialization of high-performance multijunction PV cells.

RFMD is a pioneer in compound semiconductor manufacturing with a proven
ability to commercialize new technologies. On July 1, 2009, RFMD
announced it had entered into a cooperative agreement with the U.S.
Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to
develop a commercially viable and high volume-capable compound
semiconductor-based process for high-performance multijunction PV
cells.

NREL Director Dan Arvizu said, "NREL's collaboration with RFMD
demonstrates our commitment to developing the best technologies for
renewable energy and aligning with the most capable partners to
commercialize and deploy each technology. We applaud RFMD's successful
achievement of this first technical performance milestone."

Bob Bruggeworth, president and CEO of RFMD, said, "By combining NREL's
technology leadership and decades of research with RFMD's
industry-leading cost structure and technical expertise in
commercializing high-performance, reliability-proven compound
semiconductors, we are accelerating the commercialization of a
next-generation process technology that promises the solar industry's
lowest cost, highest-performance PV cells."

Alfonso Velosa, Research Director, Semiconductors, Gartner, said, "The
semiconductor industry continues to demonstrate its ability to innovate
and produce lower cost products that enable nascent industries to
emerge. Semiconductor firms have the potential to change the dynamics
in the concentrated PV market, since they may be able to produce low
cost, high efficiency solar cells on their existing, depreciated
equipment and robust manufacturing processes. Within a few years the
concentrated PV market may be able to deliver large volumes of
renewable electricity, based in part on obtaining large volumes of high
quality -- yet low cost -- solar cells, from 'bankable' manufacturers."

RFMD achieved this PV cell milestone in the Foundation Phase of the
agreement, during which the capability to manufacture basic PV cells at
RFMD's manufacturing facilities is being established. After the
Foundation Phase, a Technology Demonstration Phase will begin, during
which PV cells leveraging NREL's IP and technology will be fabricated
at RFMD's manufacturing facilities. The final phase of the agreement is
the Production Readiness Phase, during which RFMD's high-volume,
six-inch fabs will demonstrate high-performance PV cells with high
yields, high reliability, high reproducibility and low cost.

The successful execution of RFMD's multi-year agreement with NREL is
expected to result in the high-volume production of PV cells in RFMD's
fabs as early as calendar year 2012, using technology capable of
best-in-class solar cell conversion efficiency. NREL's technology has
demonstrated one of the world's highest reported solar cell conversion
efficiencies, at 40.8 percent, and continued substantial improvements
in efficiency are anticipated.

About NREL

NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for
renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL
is operated for DOE by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

About RFMD

RF Micro Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq:RFMD) is a global leader in the design
and manufacture of high-performance radio frequency components and
compound semiconductor technologies. 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.

The RF Micro Devices, Inc. logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6436

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 risks associated with the impact of global
macroeconomic and credit conditions on our business and the business of
our suppliers and customers, variability in operating results, the rate
of growth and development of wireless markets, risks associated with
the reduced investment in our wireless systems business, our ability to
execute on our plans to consolidate or relocate manufacturing
operations, our reliance on inclusion in third party reference designs
for a portion of our revenue, our ability to manage channel partner and
customer relationships, 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, raw material costs and
availability, our ability to reduce costs and improve margins in
response to declining average selling prices, 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, dependence on gallium
arsenide (GaAs) for the majority of our products, 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 and statements 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.




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CONTACT:  RF Micro Devices, Inc.
          Doug DeLieto, VP, Investor Relations
          336-678-7088