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STMicroelectronics Announces Smart Web Based Sensor Hardware Developer Kit from Arira Design for Active RFID Asset Monitoring and Security Applications

Posted on: Wednesday, 6 May 2009, 05:00 CDT

Developer toolkit beta program supports global active RFID standard and integration with multiple sensors for emerging wireless sensor-based applications

GENEVA, May 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a world leader in semiconductor technologies and MEMS sensors, announced the industry's most comprehensive hardware developer kit (HDK) for building active RFID tags and readers that comply with the global standard for 433MHz active RFID technology, ISO 18000-7. The beta version of the Smart Web Based Sensor HDK is available now from Arira Design.

The Smart Web Based Sensor HDK solves key technical challenges for companies seeking to develop wireless sensor networks for security and asset monitoring applications. Developers can now blend standards-compliant active RFID with other wireless-networking and GPS capabilities and enhanced sensing features, exploiting built-in MEMS motion sensors and temperature and light sensors. The Smart Web Based Sensor HDK also enables longer battery life and smaller device sizes.

"We strongly believe that the next big wave in sensors will be driven by the combination of the sensing function with wireless transmission -- and ISO 18000-7 is the right solution for security and asset monitoring applications," said Benedetto Vigna, Group Vice President and General Manager of the MEMS and Healthcare Product Division at STMicroelectronics. "The Smart Web Based Sensor HDK is a best-in-class development platform that will help the adoption of wireless sensors across the industry. The HDK's rich ecosystem of sensors, combined with Savi's active RFID technology, will enable users to meet demanding technical and functional requirements."

"By making this Smart Web Based Sensor HDK available, STMicroelectronics has cleared a large hurdle for companies seeking to innovate with active RFID," said David Shannon, senior vice president of Savi Technology, the world's leading provider of active RFID products based on ISO 18000-7 standards. "The HDK enables innovators to quickly and inexpensively develop new products based on the global standard for active RFID and will help expand the market for active RFID."

About the Smart Web Based Sensor HDK

The Smart Web Based Sensor HDK consists of sample boards and a Windows application that allows developers to rapidly customize the sensor and wireless capabilities for new active RFID products. It provides users with the ability to integrate their own hardware and firmware into ISO 18000-7 based RFID products for industrial, medical, and transportation applications, including the addition of new RFID commands or data fields.

Developed by engineers from ST's Multi-Market Competence Center in Schaumburg, Illinois, in conjunction with Arira Design, based in Sunnyvale, California, the STM32 microcontroller-based platform is now being released in beta and is available from Arira Design via the web at http://www.ariradesign.com/hdk.php or by calling +1 408-789-2400.

About the ISO 18000-7 Standard

The ISO 18000-7 standard is the active RFID standard designated used by the U.S. Department of Defense, NATO and allied defense forces, as well as a rapidly growing numbers of commercial companies worldwide. The ISO 18000-7 433MHz standard specifies the wireless protocol for communication between an RFID Reader and an RFID tag.

While Savi supports STMicroelectronics' efforts to build this HDK, developers seeking to market or sell ISO 18000-7 compliant products are required to have a license from Savi, which owns the air interface protocol patent incorporated into the standard. For more information on Savi's ISO 18000-7 licensing program, visit http://www.savi.com/licensingprogram-form.shtml or call +1 650-316-4936.

About Arira Design

Arira Design is a multi-disciplined hardware design team with a focus on board and system level design services. Arira's engineering teams specialize in the development of a wide range of products including telecom switches, servers, storage devices, AV set-top boxes, and hand-held products. Further information on Arira can be found at www.ariradesign.com.

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 2008, the Company's net revenues were $9.84 billion. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.

SOURCE STMicroelectronics

Source: PR Newswire

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