March 5, 2012, Seoul, Korea – Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE: FSL, www.freescale.com) is working to expand the supply of processors based on Power Architecture® and ARM® technologies in standardized off-the-shelf single board computing (SBC) and system-on-module (SOM) form factors in collaboration with a comprehensive ecosystem of board suppliers, enabling manufacturers to reduce hardware engineering costs associated with advanced multi-core processors, shorten time-to-market, and reduce design and software complexity.

The highly flexible solutions developed through this strategy are expected to enable OEM and ODM customers to focus on IP differentiation rather than spending resources on low-level PCB hardware and board support package (BSP) software development. The program's objective is to provide OEM and ODM customers not only board configuration services but also early access to documentation, BSP, and semiconductors.

P.Y. Ferrard, Vice President of Global Channel and Ecosystem Partner Sales and Marketing at Freescale, stated, "While Freescale has developed deep board partner ecosystems over a long period, this new strategy aims to elevate Freescale's world-class semiconductor offerings to a new level." He added, "The engineering support and co-marketing efforts of this program are targeted at significantly increasing the number of production-ready Freescale-based systems supplied by leading board vendors worldwide."

According to recent preliminary market research data from IMS Research on the global embedded computer board market, the market size in 2011 exceeded 3 billion USD and is projected to grow at an average rate of 6% annually through 2016.

At the recent Embedded World exhibition, two leading board vendors announced plans to develop boards based on Freescale's advanced multi-core processors. Mercury Computer introduced an OpenVPX system using two QorIQ AMP Series T4240 processors, while Kontron plans to produce a Computer-on-Module based on Freescale i.MX 6 Series technology by the end of this year.

Steve Patterson, Vice President of Product Management at Mercury Computer, stated, "Thanks to Freescale's embedded board strategy support and early semiconductor access, Mercury was able to develop powerful board solutions using Freescale's next-generation QorIQ processors from the alpha silicon stage." He continued, "Freescale supported the development of complex products faster than ever before. As we can now inform customers early about advanced products that Mercury Computer will produce, Freescale's program is creating a win-win situation for all parties involved."

Dirk Finstel, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Kontron, stated, "Kontron is pleased to expand its strategic relationship with Freescale." He added, "Freescale's embedded board solutions strategy strongly supports Kontron's aggressive growth plans to supply application-ready platforms, create new customer applications, and develop the latest devices. Through this program, Kontron can now develop highly scalable products for both ARM and Power Architecture-based solutions, better addressing growing application requirements such as extended long-term supply and expanded temperature ranges."
Other board vendors participating in Embedded World 2012 supporting Freescale QorIQ communications processors and/or i.MX application processors include Advantech, Boundary Devices, Compulab, Congatec, Digi International, Emerson, iWave Systems, Microsys, MSC, Novtech, Seco, and TQ Group.