Freescale Expands QUICCstart Evaluation System Support for Flagship PowerQUICC Communications Processors

System developers are under constant pressure to choose theoptimal embedded processors for their next system designs. To helpdevelopers streamline the process of evaluating communicationsprocessor choices, Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE:FSL) (NYSE:FSL.B) hasexpanded its line of QUICCstart evaluation systems to support abroader range of popular PowerQUICC(TM) processors based on PowerPC(R)technology.

Freescale now offers a QUICCstart evaluation system for thehigh-performance MPC8541E PowerQUICC III processor with integratedsecurity. The MPC8541E evaluation board can be configured to supportthe MPC8555E, MPC8560 and MPC8540 PowerQUICC III processors. A newQUICCstart evaluation system also is available for the PowerQUICC IIPro processor family. The evaluation board is based on the MPC8343Eprocessor with integrated security, enabling developers to evaluateperformance, features and functionality of the PowerQUICC II Profamily.

Freescale's latest QUICCstart evaluation systems support a varietyof communications interfaces, including 10/100/1000 Ethernet and PCI.The PowerQUICC II Pro family evaluation system also supports allflavors of USB (USB Host 2.0, Device 2.0, and On-The-Go). As an addedconvenience, the QUICCstart systems include a CodeWarrior(TM) USB TAPthat enables developers to control the evaluation board and set breakpoints quickly and easily.

"QUICCstart is the ideal evaluation solution for developersbecause it provides a head start in the development cycle with asmooth transition to a production environment, while providing reliefto the development budget compared with higher-cost applicationdevelopment systems," said Jeff Timbs, director of marketing forFreescale's Digital Systems Division. "Combining ease of use withversatility, QUICCstart systems enable designers to take on amultitude of networking and telecom equipment applications based onPowerQUICC processors."

QUICCstart evaluation systems support the full range of Freescalecommunications processors, from cost-effective PowerQUICC I devices tohigh-performance PowerQUICC III system-on-chip processors. Theevaluation systems provide a turnkey platform for evaluating theperformance and functionality of PowerQUICC processors for use in awide range of embedded applications. Hardware engineers can use thesystems to prototype board designs that closely parallel their finalapplications. Software developers also can use the systems fordeveloping and testing application code.

"Embedded Planet launched its first platform based on PowerQUICCprocessors in 1997 and has continued to build an extensive productportfolio around the PowerQUICC architecture," said Matt Hoover, vicepresident of sales and marketing at Embedded Planet. "With theincreasing performance and functionality of the PowerQUICCarchitecture, it is critical that developers have a simple andcost-effective development environment early in the processorlifecycle, and QUICCstart evaluation systems provide a perfectsolution."

About the QUICCstart evaluation systems

Each QUICCstart system comes complete with an evaluation boarddeveloped for Freescale by Embedded Planet, associated power supplyand cables, CodeWarrior(TM) Development Studio, a Freescaleopen-source operating system based on the Linux(R) kernel, andCD-ROM-based documentation, including system design and referenceinformation. The evaluation systems have been packaged for"out-of-the-box" productivity. Within 30 minutes of unpacking the kitand connecting the board to a host laptop or desktop system,developers can be up and running in evaluating their PowerQUICCprocessor-based designs.

"Freescale's PowerQUICC architecture is popular among embeddedsystems developers because it offers exceptional scalability,compatibility and a host of development tools," said Ranjit Deshpande,CTO of Kenati Technologies. "Using the QUICCstart evaluation system,Kenati was able to deploy and qualify a full-fledged VPN gatewaysolution in less than four weeks. Due to the availability ofdevelopment tools, such as QUICCstart boards and Kenati softwareplatforms, device manufacturers are able to roll out products with avastly reduced software development cycle."

Using the QUICCstart board, a software developer can write code ona PC host, download it to the evaluation board, then examine chipperformance, develop and debug algorithms, and work quickly toward anend application. Firmware, hardware and production test engineers canadapt the QUICCstart system to their own requirements to reducedevelopment time. Production test engineers can use the board anddebugging tools to design and prototype complex production algorithmsbefore custom hardware is prototyped.

Pricing and availability

QUICCstart evaluation systems for the MPC8541E PowerQUICC IIIprocessor and the PowerQUICC II Pro family are available this quarterfrom Freescale and through Freescale distributors; suggested retailprices range from $795 to $995. The CodeWarrior Development Studiothat comes with each system is an evaluation version that is timelimited to 30 days from installation. A fully licensed version ofCodeWarrior software can be obtained separately from Freescale andFreescale distributors. For more details about QUICCstart and otherFreescale development tools, visit www.freescale.com/devtooldirect.

About Freescale Semiconductor

Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (NYSE:FSL) (NYSE:FSL.B) is a globalleader in the design and manufacture of embedded semiconductors forthe automotive, consumer, industrial, networking and wireless markets.Freescale became a publicly traded company in July 2004 after morethan 50 years as part of Motorola, Inc. The company is based inAustin, Texas, and has design, research and development, manufacturingor sales operations in more than 30 countries. Freescale, a member ofthe S&P 500(R), is one of the world's largest semiconductor companies,with 2004 sales of $5.7 billion (USD).

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Freescale(TM) and the Freescale logo are trademarks of FreescaleSemiconductor, Inc. All other product or service names are theproperty of their respective owners. The "PowerPC" name is a trademarkof IBM Corp. and used under license. (C) Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.2005.