PALO ALTO, Calif., June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Ozmo Devices, the leading provider of low-power Wi-Fi Personal Area Network (Wi-Fi PAN) solutions, announced today that it started sampling its OZMO2000 chip to select peripheral manufacturers.  This is the first Wi-Fi solution to overcome the battery life, cost and compatibility issues that have limited the broad adoption of Wi-Fi for HID (human interface device) applications.  The OZMO2000 is currently available for use in Wi-Fi mouse, keyboard and remote control designs.  Furthermore, the solution is compatible with all Wi-Fi-enabled notebooks and desktops that are compatible with Windows 7.

The OZMO2000 solution is the first to take advantage of Windows 7 SoftAP (Software-based Access Point) functionality to attach peripherals to personal computers.  SoftAP is built into every version of Windows 7 and allows Wi-Fi devices to connect directly to notebooks without the need for an access point.

"Windows 7 SoftAP functionality is a logo requirement for all Wi-Fi products under Windows 7," said Billy Anders, group program manager for Windows Networking at Microsoft Corp. "Given the nearly 100 percent attach rate of Wi-Fi in notebooks, Ozmo's innovative solution adds new, low-power peripherals to any Windows 7-based notebook without increasing the platform cost. We are excited to see developers like Ozmo take advantage of this innovative Windows 7 feature to improve the customer experience."

The wireless mouse market is a key target for the OZMO2000 and Primax Electronics, a leading Taiwan-based mouse manufacturer, is the first ODM to offer their mouse designs with the OZMO2000. "We are excited to partner with Ozmo and be at the leading edge of bringing Wi-Fi peripherals to market," commented Jackie Shih, R&D Director, Primax Electronics.

Furthermore, Ozmo has partnered with NMB Technologies Corporation, one of the largest keyboard manufacturers in the world.  "The use of Wi-Fi for peripheral connectivity dramatically expands the opportunity for wireless peripherals", said Gerry Fay, President, NMB Technologies Corporation.  "Our partnership with Ozmo allows us to deliver new and exciting keyboard designs to our customers based on Ozmo's state-of-the-art technology."

OZMO2000 – Features and Functionality:

• No Dongle: The OZMO2000 connects seamlessly with the Wi-Fi chip in the notebook.  Unlike proprietary 2.4GHz solutions, no dongle is occupying a USB port.
• Battery Life: The advanced power management features provide a solution battery life that is two to three times longer than legacy wireless solutions like Bluetooth®.
• Low Cost: as a System-on-a-Chip (SoC), the OZMO2000 only requires a few external components which results in a cost-effective solution compared to Bluetooth and proprietary 2.4GHz technology.
• Highly Scalable: the OZMO2000 supports up to 24Mbps data rates with very low power consumption.  This provides an ideal solution for low data rate applications like mouse and keyboard, as well as for advanced designs with higher data rate requirements like touch features or integrated video and audio.

Wi-Fi Direct Certification

The OZMO2000 is compatible with Windows 7 SoftAP as well as Intel's MyWi-Fi Technology.  Furthermore, the OZMO2000 is designed to be compatible with the upcoming Wi-Fi Direct standard.  The Wi-Fi Alliance plans this new certification program to be available later in the year.

Availability: Samples are available now to qualified customers. Production volumes will be available in the fourth quarter.

Pricing: the OZMO2000 is priced at US$3.00 in 10,000 unit quantity.

About Primax Electronics

Founded in March 1984 in Taiwan, Primax Electronics is a leading global supplier in consumer and business electronics.  Spanning over the entire globe, Primax has headquarters and R&D in Taiwan and manufacturing operations in China, sales and marketing offices in Hong Kong, Japan, Europe and the United states.  Primax offers products across four broad categories: imaging products, computer peripherals, office equipment and communication devices.  Primax became a publicly traded company (No. 2336) on the Taiwan Stock Exchange in January 1995.

About NMB Technologies Corporation

NMB Technologies Corporation, a Minebea Group Company, is the world's largest manufacturer of miniature precision ball bearings and a volume leader in the design and manufacturing of precision electro-mechanical components, including keyboards, cooling fans and blowers, precision small motors and mechanical bearing assemblies. NMB products can be found in the personal computing, networking, telecommunications, home entertainment, home electronics, and automotive, medical and industrial markets. For more information on NMB Technologies Corporation visit http://www.nmbtc.com or e-mail info@nmbtc.com.

About Ozmo Devices

Ozmo Devices is the leading provider of low-power Wi-Fi PAN solutions. Ozmo Devices extends the functionality of Wi-Fi-enabled platforms to seamlessly communicate with peripherals. Ozmo Devices' silicon solution delivers superior performance for low-power wireless peripherals like mice and headsets. Ozmo Devices is backed by top-tier venture capital firms and managed by semiconductor industry veterans. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, and has offices in the United Kingdom. For more information about Ozmo Devices, visit www.ozmodevices.com.

SOURCE Ozmo Devices