Jennic announces availability of evaluation kit for single chip ZigBee device with choice of stacks from Korwin and Luxoft

Company demonstrates first ZigBee solutions using single system-on-chip IEEE802.15.4 device in home automation and industrial automation at Oslo Open House

Oslo, Norway – 15 June 2005 -- At the ZigBee Alliance Open House in Oslo, Norway, Jennic today announces the general availability of development kits using network protocol stacks from two of its partners, and demonstrate the first solutions for industrial, building and home automation applications based on its single chip IEEE802.15.4 device. Using the evaluation kit, the company will show the world’s first demo of a ZigBee application on a single chip integrated into a mobile phone for use in home automation using a network stack from Korwin; and a building and industrial plant monitoring system using a network stack from Luxoft Labs.

The different solutions being demonstrated on Jennic’s evaluation kit highlight the arrival of real ZigBee solutions based on a choice of stack providers. System developers can choose the most appropriate stack for their specific end-user requirements, from a range of established companies.

Korwin, a Korean network stack and module provider with extensive experience in Bluetooth network stack and module development, is the latest partner to join Jennic’s partner program. At the open house, Korwin will demonstrate a ZigBee-enabled mobile phone handset running Korwin’s network stack and its 'star, tree, mesh' network system for a home network, based on Jennic's single chip device and running the KZ-OS (Korwin ZigBee -OS) operating system.

Luxoft Labs, a major Eastern European design outsourcing company and recently announced as stack partner by Jennic, will demonstrate its ‘meshnetics’ system for building and industrial monitoring using Jennic’s chip running the ZigBee network stack and TinyOS operating system. Luxoft Labs develops the hardware and software for complete sensing and control solutions in machine-to-machine and industrial automation applications.

Jennic’s evaluation kit enables the development of sensor network applications for ZigBee networks based on its JS24Z121 IEEE802.15.4 single chip transceiver/ microcontroller device. The kit includes a suite of library functions that provide all the elements required to build network products based on the IEEE802.15.4 standard, including device drivers, typical sensor and control drivers; these are backed up with example applications to support a star network with central co-ordinator node featuring a large LCD display and endpoints. It also incorporates LEDs, push button switches, temperature, humidity and light sensors. The kit provides a complete, unlimited development environment containing GNU C-compiler, assembler, debugger, device programmer and download tools.

About Jennic
Jennic is a fabless semiconductor company leading the wireless connectivity revolution into new applications. Its expertise in systems and software combined with world class RF and digital chip design provides low cost, highly integrated silicon solutions for the low power short range wireless data market with a focus on the IEEE802.15.4 and ZigBee standards. The company’s products include state-of-the-art low power wireless microcontrollers, transceivers and low cost development platforms. Headquartered in Sheffield, UK, and employing over 60 people, Jennic is privately held and has a track record of successful silicon chip development for wireless applications over the last nine years.

About The ZigBee Alliance
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 is a rapidly growing, non-profit industry consortium of leading semiconductor manufacturers, technology providers, OEMs, and end-users worldwide. Membership is open to all. Additional information can be found at www.zigbee.org.