Atmel Signs Agreement with MeshNetics to Deliver Free ZigBee Stack
04/09/2007 14:52
PR Newswire
SAN JOSE, California, September 4 /PRNewswire/ --
Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) and MeshNetics, a leading ZigBee(R)
technology provider, today announced they have signed an agreement. Under the
new agreement, MeshNetics eZeeNet ZigBee networking stack software -- already
part of MeshNetics' own ZigBit IEEE802.15.4(TM)/ZigBee modules and
development kits -- will now be bundled with Atmel's AVR(R) Z-Link(R)
chipsets, accessory and demonstration kits at no extra cost to the users.
MeshNetics eZeeNet ZigBee stack and software development tools can now be
downloaded at Atmel's website.
AVR Z-Link program was initiated to bring complete Atmel hardware-based
system solutions to the fast growing and diversified IEEE802.15.4/ZigBee
market where AVR has already established itself as one of the most recognized
low power microcontrollers. With its efficient core and excellent
peripherals, it is the perfect match for wireless applications. Customers who
seek to realize Atmel's hardware significant benefits need software tailored
to their needs. This is where agreements, such as the new Atmel/MeshNetics
union, are extremely advantageous. By tapping into the other party's
expertise, this approach allows faster, less costly time-to-market for the
clients.
"Working together with Atmel is an important step for us. Atmel is a
world leader in advanced semiconductors with a clear vision for the growing
IEEE802.15.4/ZigBee market," said Mr. Vasiliy Suvorov, CEO of MeshNetics.
"Success of a ZigBee solution development largely depends on the right
combination of hardware and software. Atmel's best-of-breed hardware combined
with MeshNetics' expertise in software and reference design creates a winning
proposition for AVR developers. Our latest free ZigBee software tools will
help bring new ZigBee-ready products to the market faster and cut development
costs at the same time."
MeshNetics brings years of experience in firmware, module design, and
wireless sensor networking software. MeshNetics has advanced expertise in
developing wireless sensor data integration solutions for building
monitoring, HVAC control, plant safety and equipment monitoring. Industry's
smallest ZigBit IEEE802.15.4/ZigBee modules are based on the AVR Z-Link
hardware platform and offer a superior line-of-site unamplified range of over
1,000m. The robust mesh networking eZeeNet software and sample applications,
included in the Development Kit, provide all the tools needed to develop
reliable, cost-effective ZigBee solutions.
"As a result of the agreement with MeshNetics, we are now able to offer a
complete development environment for wireless sensor networks ranging from
state-of-the art chipsets and modules, via affordable development kits and
tools, to a free ZigBee stack," said Magnus Pedersen, Atmel's Director of AVR
RF Marketing. "Free software to support ZigBit modules from MeshNetics as
well as AVR Z-Link chipsets from Atmel, gives our customers a flying start
en-route to certifiable ZigBee products, and significantly reduces the
efforts to get final products into volume production."
Atmel's AVR Z-Link hardware platform includes the popular low-power
ATmega1281, AVR 8-bit Flash microcontroller and the latest Atmel AT86RF230
radio transceiver that boasts -101dBm of Rx sensitivity and up to +3dBm of Tx
power. This combination is known as the "link budget." Range of operation is
a logarithmic function of link budget, so a difference of only 9 dBm nearly
triples the range. Thanks to the outperforming link budget, the range of
AT86RF230 is almost 3 times that of any other 2.4GHz 802.15.4 radio on the
market today.
The ATAVRRZ502 RF Accessory Kit and ATAVRRZ200 Demonstration Kit enable
development, debugging and demonstration on IEEE802.15.4/ZigBee networks.
However, MeshNetics eZeeNet, a robust IEEE802.15.4/ZigBee software stack,
enables Atmel's RCB boards to perform as nodes in a self-healing,
self-organizing mesh network. MeshNetics' eZeeNet WSN demo software,
supplied in source code, enables users to visualize live network topology and
assemble custom network configurations by programming the boards with
corresponding firmware images. With MeshNetics eZeeNet software, developers
can also evaluate network performance, including self-healing and
self-organizing features, browse hardware parameters of remote nodes, and
manage nodes from an easy-to-use Graphical User Interface (GUI).
ZigBee stack and Software Development Kit are available from:
http://www.atmel.com/products/avr/z-link/ or
http://www.meshnetics.com/freezigbee.
About Atmel
Atmel is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of
microcontrollers, advanced logic, mixed-signal, nonvolatile memory and radio
frequency (RF) components. Leveraging one of the industry's broadest
intellectual property (IP) technology portfolios, Atmel is able to provide
the electronics industry with complete system solutions focused on consumer,
industrial, security, communications, computing and automotive markets.
(C) 2007 Atmel Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Atmel(R), logo and
combinations thereof, AVR(R), Z-Link(R) and others, are registered
trademarks, or trademarks of Atmel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Other
terms and product names may be trademarks of others.
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
membership comprises technology providers and original equipment
manufacturers worldwide. Membership is open to all.
Additional information can be found at http://www.zigbee.org/.
About MeshNetics
MeshNetics makes industry's smallest IEEE802.15.4/ZigBee modules with
best-in-class range. All MeshNetics ZigBee networking software is free to
download. MeshNetics is a single source of ZigBee modules, networking
software, technical support, and design services to its clients, such as OEMs
and system integrators. This combination of products and services enables
faster time-to-market and significant cost savings for clients, working on
ZigBee-based wireless sensing solutions in building automation, energy
efficiency, HVAC, AMR, predictive maintenance, asset tracking and other
application areas. For more information, please visit
http://www.meshnetics.com/.
Information:
For further information on AVR Z-Link, go to:
http://www.atmel.com/products/avr/z-link/
Atmel Press Contacts:
Philippe Faure, Marketing Communications Director - Microcontrollers
Phone: +33-2-40-18-18-87, Email: philippe.faure@atmel.com
Helen Perlegos, Public Relations
Phone: +1-408-487-2963, Email: hperlegos@atmel.com
MeshNetics Press Contact:
Alex Leonov, PR & Communications Phone: +7-495-725-8125 x5504, Email:
aleonov@meshnetics.com
Web site: http://www.atmel.com
http://www.meshnetics.com
http://www.zigbee.org
Philippe Faure, Marketing Communications Director - Microcontrollers, +33-2-40-18-18-87, philippe.faure@atmel.com, or Helen Perlegos, Public Relations, +1-408-487-2963, hperlegos@atmel.com, both of Atmel Corporation; or Alex Leonov, PR & Communications of MeshNetics, +7-495-725-8125, ext. 5504, aleonov@meshnetics.com