April 18, 2014, Seoul, Korea – The easy-to-use web-based mbed™ development tool is now available for free for Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE: FSL)’s Kinetis L-series microcontrollers. The FRDM-KL25Z Freescale Freedom development platform is now part of the mbed hardware lineup and is supported by the robust mbed online development community.

The FRDM-KL25Z Freescale Freedom development platform is an affordable hardware tool used for evaluation and development using the Kinetis L-series MCU, the industry's first ARM Cortex™-M0+ core-based microcontroller. The FRDM-KL25Z is ideal for rapid prototyping of MCU-based applications and has proven to be an effective solution for developers, with over 10,000 users adopting the platform within one month of its launch.

With the addition of the FRDM-KL25Z to the mbed hardware lineup, FRDM-KL25Z customers can now utilize mbed.org for free. Users can fully leverage the mbed online environment, which includes an SDK (Software Development Kit), powerful online tools, an active developer community, and extensive reusable code. The mbed online compiler provides an easy and simple way to use the FRDM-KL25Z without the hassle of downloading, installing, and licensing separate tools. The mbed.org user forum provides a vibrant community of experts that handles general mbed SDK and tool-related tasks, shares best practices, and helps improve designer productivity. “mbed is a widely adopted online tool among developers as a rapid prototyping environment for ARM Powered® microcontrollers,” said Geoff Lees, Vice President and General Manager of Freescale’s Microcontroller Business Unit. “We have made the easy-to-use and widely distributed Freescale Freedom KL25Z hardware available for rapid prototyping using the award-winning Kinetis L-series MCUs. Through this, Freescale supports designers in developing more easily using Kinetis MCUs at every stage and meeting increasingly stringent time-to-market requirements.”

John Cornish, Vice President and General Manager of ARM’s System Design business unit, said, “We are pleased to add Freescale as an mbed partner and hardware supplier. Since the launch of mbed, many engineers have been able to start a wide range of development projects, from small sensors to motor controllers. With the introduction of FRDM-KL25Z hardware to online mbed tools, developers can now prototype with Kinetis L-series MCUs in minutes and leverage support and resources from the broad mbed community.”

The FRDM-KL25Z Freescale Freedom development platform can be used to evaluate Kinetis L Series KL1 and KL2 devices. This platform includes the KL25Z128VLK, part of the KL2 family, which features an operating frequency of up to 48 MHz, 128 KB of flash, a high-speed USB controller, and various analog and digital peripherals. The FRDM-KL25Z hardware is compatible with the Arduino™ R3 pin layout specification and offers hundreds of expansion board options. Onboard interfaces include RGB LEDs, a 3-axis digital accelerometer, and a capacitive touch slider.

Supply situation
The FRDM-KL25Z Freescale Freedom development platform, which supports mbed, is available through Freescale distribution partners at a suggested retail price of $12.95 (USD). The purchase link can be found at www.freescale.com/FRDM-KL25Z . Freescale plans to release additional mbed-supported development platforms in 2013.

Information on Software and Development Solutions for Freescale MCUs
Freescale software and development solutions for 8/16/32-bit MCUs support the implementation of embedded applications, reducing design complexity and shortening time-to-market. Freescale’s extensive software offerings, ranging from drivers and simple demo software to highly integrated RTOSs (Real-time Operating Systems) containing software components, serve as the foundation for implementing a diverse range of applications. Online product selectors and design tools assist in selecting the right MCU for critical applications. The award-winning Tower System modular development platform, the Freescale Freedom development platform, and a comprehensive network of partner development solutions enable easy and rapid evaluation and prototyping using Freescale MCUs.