STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM), one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies, and Ember Corporation have signed an agreement to jointly develop complete solutions for the fast-growing ZigBee(TM) wireless networking market. ZigBee is a wireless, standards-based radio technology that addresses the unique needs of remote monitoring, control and sensor network applications.
The companies will co-develop a complete roadmap of next generation ZigBee solutions, including hardware, software and tools.
This non-exclusive partnership combines Ember’s expertise and intellectual property in 802.15.4/ZigBee radio hardware and software, with ST’s world-class capabilities in semiconductor technology and development, as well as its global manufacturing and marketing resources. The joint development by ST and Ember of these new products, the first of which is planned for launch in early 2006, means that customers will be able to take advantage of these fully compatible offerings as reliable reciprocal second sources.
For ST, the relationship with Ember will significantly accelerate its development of leading-edge ZigBee technology and offer its customers a robust roadmap of new interoperable products.
ST’s relationship with Ember is the result of an extensive market evaluation of various ZigBee technology providers, according to Jean-Claude Kaire, director of standard linear ICs, STMicroelectronics. “ST chose Ember because its ZigBee platform is more mature, feature-rich and well ahead of other vendors. Together we can be strong leaders in the ZigBee market by combining the complementary assets and expertise of our two companies.”
For Ember, teaming with semiconductor giant ST represents the deepest relationship yet, in its strategy to partner with leading microcontroller manufacturers to offer a diverse choice of interoperable, standards-based ZigBee platforms from which device manufacturers can build new products.
“ST’s decision to work with Ember in serving the ZigBee market is a huge validation for both Ember and ZigBee,” said Adrian Tuck, Ember’s executive vice president. “This relationship will enable Ember to access the vast resources of an industry giant with dozens of advanced R&D centers, design centers, cutting-edge manufacturing technology, and sales offices in 36 countries.”
About ZigBee: Wireless Control That Simply Works
The ZigBee Alliance is an association of companies working together to enable reliable, cost-effective, low-power, wirelessly networked, monitoring and control products based on an open global standard. The ZigBee Alliance is a rapidly growing, non-profit industry consortium of leading semiconductor manufacturers, technology providers, OEMs, and end-users worldwide. Membership is open to all.
Additional information can be found at www.zigbee.org.
About STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics is a global leader in developing and delivering semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications. An unrivalled combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength, Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners positions the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and its products play a key role in enabling today’s convergence markets. The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on Euronext Paris and on the Milan Stock Exchange. In 2004, the Company’s net revenues were
$8.76 billion and net earnings were $601 million. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.
About Ember Corporation
Ember enables communication among embedded microcontrollers with standards-based wireless mesh networking semiconductors and software.
Ember helps its customers to automate home appliances, lower energy consumption in buildings, keep borders and infrastructure secure, and control industrial processes, just to name four of the many diverse applications being developed by Ember’s more than 100 customers. Spun out of MIT in 2001, Ember is headquartered in Boston and has its radio development center in Cambridge, England and distributors worldwide.
Ember is a lead member of the ZigBee Alliance, and its platform is the National Technical Systems’ (NTS) “Golden Suite” for 802.15.4/ZigBee interoperability testing. For more information, please visit www.ember.com.
