Atmel First to Receive ZigBee Remote Control Certification Using ATmega128RFA1

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CES 2011 -- Atmel® Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML), a leader in microcontroller and touch solutions, today announced that it has achieved ZigBee® Certified status for the Atmel Key Remote Controller based on the ZigBee Remote Control™ standard and the ATmega128RFA1 single-chip wireless device microcontroller. With this certification, Atmel Key Remote Controller users can now run the ZigBee Remote Control software profile stack to gain secure and interoperable RF-based remote controls with two-way communication and no line-of-sight requirements. ZigBee Remote Control provides a global standard for advanced, greener and easy-to-use RF remotes that removes line-of-sight restrictions while delivering two-way communication, longer range of use and extended battery life.

Designed for a variety of consumer electronic (CE) devices including HDTV, home theater equipment, set-top boxes and other audio equipment, ZigBee Remote Control frees consumers from pointing remotes at devices and offers improved battery longevity thanks to its low power requirements. ZigBee Remote Control also offers consumers more flexibility, allowing control of devices from nearby rooms and placement of those devices almost anywhere - including behind wood, interior walls or glass.

"Atmel ZigBee Certified products help CE manufacturers continue their shift towards the reliability, convenience and efficiency of ZigBee Remote Control," said Benno Ritter, vice president of marketing and business development at the ZigBee Alliance. "Only ZigBee Certified products deliver the interoperability between multiple vendor products that consumers expect and deserve."

ZigBee Remote Control is a standard designed for the ZigBee RF4CE specification that helps simplify how consumers control and use consumer electronic devices. By applying this standard to a remote with an Atmel Key Remote Controller inside, it enhances the home theater experience by automatically connecting a TV to the correct DVD input; allowing a remote control to automatically switch modes to control a DVD; or allowing a remote control to navigate the content on an HDTV.

"As a committed supplier to the ZigBee wireless markets, we are pleased to be the first to have our Key Remote Controller product attain ZigBee Certified product status for ZigBee Remote Control," said Magnus Pedersen, product marketing director of MCU wireless solutions at Atmel Corporation. "With this certification, Atmel is now compliant with several ZigBee standards and specifications including ZigBee RF4CE and ZigBee Smart Energy. We strive to be fully compliant with all the latest ZigBee innovations."

ZigBee Remote Control – The standard for advanced remote controls

ZigBee Remote Control is the global standard for advanced and easy-to-use RF remotes that delivers non-line-of-sight operation, two-way communication, longer range of use and extended battery life for a variety of consumer electronic (CE) devices including HDTV, home theater equipment, set-top boxes and other audio equipment.  ZigBee Remote Control was designed exclusively for the ZigBee RF4CE specification.  For more information, visit:  www.zigbee.org/remotecontrol.

More Information / Photo

ZigBee Remote Control stack, supporting Atmel's RF transceivers and microcontrollers, is available for free download at www.atmel.com/RF4CE.

More information on the Atmel ATmega128RFA1 is available at: http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/product_card.asp?part_id=4692

To download a high-resolution photo of the Atmel Key Remote Controller, please click the following link: www.atmel.com/pressroom/photos/remote-control.png.

About Atmel

Atmel Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of microcontrollers, capacitive touch solutions, 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 industrial, consumer, communications, computing and automotive markets.

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SOURCE Atmel Corporation