Freescale Expands Availability of Flash Programming for Consumer and Industrial Microcontrollers
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Source Electronics provides high-volume MCU programming services to help customers speed time to market and enhance production readiness
AUSTIN, Texas - May 23, 2007 - Responding to the high-volume production needs of embedded developers, Freescale Semiconductor has expanded the availability of flash programming services across its portfolio of microcontrollers (MCUs) for the consumer and industrial market. These Freescale devices include recently qualified 8-bit MCUs, 16-bit MCUs and digital signal controllers (DSCs), and 32-bit ColdFire® MCUs.
Developers have a choice of using Freescale's in-house MCU programming capabilities or the turnkey services of Source Electronics, a leading programming center for integrated circuits (ICs) and other devices. Flash programming services are planned to be available for Freescale's consumer and industrial MCUs and DSCs typically within three weeks of final device qualification.
"Extending the availability of programming services throughout our consumer and industrial controller portfolio greatly enhances our customers' time to market," said Jeff Bock, global marketing manager for Freescale's consumer and industrial microcontrollers. "Turnkey flash programming services through Source Electronics will change the way customers approach production readiness, enabling them to engage in cost-effective prototype builds and move quickly to volume production shortly after a Freescale device is qualified and released to market."
Freescale has collaborated with System General (SG) as its platform of choice for high-volume automated device programming systems, and Source Electronics also uses programming systems from SG. These state-of-the-art device programmers enhance manufacturing flexibility and efficiency by enabling fast turns on material requirements and managing inventory control. Source Electronics' systems are designed to meet high-volume production requirements and tight lead times while minimizing component handling for quality assurance.
"As a key supplier of turnkey programming services for Freescale's 8-bit MCUs, we look forward to providing customers with these value-added services across Freescale's broad portfolio of MCUs, from 8- to 32-bit," said Rick Staszewski, vice president of sales at Source Electronics. "Working in collaboration with Freescale, we are committed to meeting the production needs of customers and contributing to their market success and competitiveness with high-quality programming services."
Pricing and availability
Flash programming services are available now for newly qualified Freescale microcontrollers. Programming service pricing varies by quantities ordered and can be as low as five cents per piece in volume. Programming set-up fees are virtually eliminated; customers pay only a $50 minimum order charge.
For more information or to engage with Freescale's MCU programming services, visit www.freescale.com/files/pr/prgm.html.
About Freescale Semiconductor
Freescale Semiconductor is a global leader in the design and manufacture of embedded semiconductors for the automotive, consumer, industrial, networking and wireless markets. The privately held company is based in Austin, Texas, and has design, research and development, manufacturing or sales operations in more than 30 countries. Freescale is one of the world's largest semiconductor companies with 2006 sales of $6.4 billion (USD). www.freescale.com
About Source Electronics
Source Electronics Corporation provides value-added services for integrated circuits (ICs) and related devices. Serving Electronics Manufacturing Service providers (EMS), Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and semiconductor manufacturers in the electronics industry for more than a decade, Source is now the dominant leader in IC programming, IC testing, lead scanning, taping and reeling and materials management services. Headquartered in New Hampshire, Source has other facilities in Fremont, California; Guadalajara, Mexico; Sao Paulo and Manaus, Brazil; Singapore; and Hong Kong and Shanghai, China. www.sourceelectronics.com
Freescale Technology Forum
The Freescale Technology Forum (FTF) has become the developer event of the year for the embedded semiconductor industry. The Forum, which debuted in 2005, has been enthusiastically received by the global developer community, drawing more than 12,000 attendees at FTF events worldwide since its inception. For more information about FTF events, please go to www.freescale.com/ftf.
Media Contacts:
Americas
Dale Weisman
Freescale Semiconductor
(512) 895-2795
dale.weisman@freescale.com
Emilie Harris
Lois Paul & Partners
(512) 638-5321
emilie_harris@lpp.com
