Arasan Chip Systems Provides Complete Solutions for the Key Bus Interfaces in the Emerging NetBook Market

SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 25, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Arasan Chip Systems, Inc. ("Arasan"), a leading provider of Total IP Solutions to enable the rapid adoption of emerging technologies, announced that its IP portfolio provides the most comprehensive and complete set of solutions for the growing NetBook market. According to leading industry analysts, sales of NetBooks accelerated to 33 million units in 2009 and are anticipating a healthy growth in 2010, thus ensuring that OEMs cannot afford to ignore this segment.

IDC reported that while worldwide PC shipments increased by 15.2% in 2009, the U.S. alone experienced a whopping 24% rise. This rise was 35% higher than earlier projections and IDC's research showed that it was fueled by consumer demand for NetBooks which increased their share to 20% of all consumer laptop shipments in the second half of 2009. The appeal of a NetBook lies in its compact yet feature-filled form-factor, which implies a number of Bus interfaces. Efficient, low-pin count and low power interconnect is a vital part of the chipset infrastructure enabling NetBooks. IP solution providers such as Arasan Chip Systems thus become a valuable resource in enabling the integration of leading edge IP solutions to meet Time to Market goals for OEMs.

Arasan provides a complete solution for the major Bus Interfaces being used in NetBooks today such as MIPI, SDIO, SuperSpeed USB and memory, storage solutions based on SD 3.0 and eMMC. Arasan's deep domain expertise through early engagement with standard's bodies and leading edge customers, results in the highest quality interface IP – which these discerning customers have come to rely on.

"Arasan has long invested in developing extensive protocol expertise which it leverages in the development and validation of its Bus IP portfolio," said Prakash Kamath, Vice-President of Engineering at Arasan. "Leading NetBook chip vendors rely on our expertise in optimizing their solutions to differentiate their offering. Arasan's engineering teams go beyond delivering and supporting IP – to a more consultative engagement with customers, enabling the technological adoption of leading interconnect standards. Our expanding portfolio now includes PHYs, which are the crucial building block for implementing efficient interconnects."

"The growing speed and complexity of Application Processors and importance of low-pin count and inter-operable interfaces compounds the difficulty faced by NetBook chip design teams," observed Ram Gopalan, Senior Director of Marketing at Arasan. "Arasan is the only leading IP provider to deliver a complete solution, working with the customer to ease SoC integration and mitigate Time to Market considerations with its Total Solutions offering."