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Freescale and Arada Systems collaborate to streamline development of 802.11n access point devices

AUSTIN, Texas - July 14, 2008 - Freescale and Arada Systems have collaborated to create a production-ready reference design offered to help speed and simplify the development of concurrent 802.11n access point devices. The solution supports advanced 802.11n features such as security, QoS and multiple SSID for both video and VoIP applications.

The reference design leverages Freescale’s MPC8377E-RDB platform to deliver more than 330 Mbps of TCP/IP throughput in the combined 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz bands, while providing enough processing power to address other enterprise-class applications.

“Partnering with Arada allows us to offer our customers a proven, production-ready solution that provides industry leading performance for 802.11n enterprise WLAN access points,” said Altaf Hussain, marketing manager with Freescale Semiconductor’s Networking Systems Division. “This solution gives manufacturers the components they need to rapidly create compelling new products that succeed in the marketplace.”

Running on the Freescale silicon is Arada’s AWS software, which is a highly scalable architecture ideal for a range of Wi-Fi® products including wireless bridges, wireless routers and triple-play gateway applications. AWS features Atheros Draft 802.11n XSPAN technology. The modular architecture of the AWS software allows customers to focus on high value tasks while relying on the robust architecture and implementation of the MAC layer functionalities.

AWS includes a unique extensible layer called SoftChip, which maximizes the advanced capabilities of Atheros Wi-Fi chipsets. AWS features a true enterprise-class Wi-Fi software stack that supports dual-concurrent 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz designs while providing the flexibility to support various fat, fit and thin AP models.

“Arada Systems is excited to venture in this partnership with a world-class company like Freescale,” said Praveen Singh, president and chief executive officer of Arada Systems. “There is tremendous growth expected in 802.11n within emerging applications, and Freescale's architecture allows us to exploit many features including PCI- and PCI Express®-ready capabilities.”