NEC Electronics, Skyley Networks, and UBEC Introduce Development Kits for ZigBee(TM) Wireless Peer-to-Peer Mesh Networking

NEC Electronics, Skyley Networks, and UBEC Introduce Development Kits for ZigBee(TM) Wireless Peer-to-Peer Mesh Networking

November 06, 2006

    TOKYO and HSINCHU, Taiwan, Nov. 6 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/
-- NEC Electronics Corporation, Skyley Networks Inc., and
Uniband Electronic Corporation ("UBEC") today
introduced development kits, including both software and
hardware, that enable OEMs and system developers to quickly
and easily develop low power, wireless peer-to-peer mesh
networks ideal for the rapidly growing field of industrial
and residential building management systems, lighting
controls, automated meters, sensors, and security systems. 
The kits will be certified for compliance with the Enhanced
ZigBee(TM) Standard, to be unveiled by the ZigBee Alliance
early next year. 

    The Software Development Kit (SDK), co-developed by NEC
Electronics and Skyley Networks, features an easy to use
graphical user interface (GUI), which allows effortless
network development without the need for C programming, and
includes a network sniffer, network viewer, node setting
tool, and node monitor tool, for easy implementation of
peer-to-peer mesh networks based on years of networking
expertise.

    The hardware platform, consists of several evaluation
boards based on All Flash(TM) microcontrollers by NEC
Electronics, which offers the flexibility of flash-based
programming and excellent power consumption levels,
combined with UBEC's UZ2400 transceiver device, which
integrates a wireless RF transceiver operating at 2.4
gigahertz, physical (PHY) layer baseband and media access
control (MAC) layer architecture.

    After prototyping with the development kit, users can
choose to develop their systems using any of NEC
Electronics' unparalleled family of flash-based
microcontrollers, including the 8-bit 78K0, the 16-bit K0R,
and the 32-bit V850ES microcontrollers.  The company boasts
a lineup of more than 200 devices, allowing customers to
select the MCU that meets the precise needs for the
applications they want to develop.
    
    "NEC Electronics offers customers a selection of
more than 200 flash-based microcontrollers to choose from,
offering an unparalleled degree of flexibility," said
Shige Ishikawa, general manager, Multipurpose Microcomputer
Systems Division, NEC Electronics.  "We are excited to
be working with Skyley Networks and UBEC, two recognized
leaders in the ZigBee arena, to bring such a wide range of
possibilities to wireless system developers."

    "It is quite exciting to see the five year
experience of ad-hoc, peer-to-peer network in Skyley
Networks can be shared with vast amount of network solution
providers on the globe," said Hidekazu Umeda, CEO of
Skyley Networks.

    "This collaboration took place at a perfect time
for the ZigBee network to commence the deployment in
various sensor networks," said Chun-Yi Chai, CEO of
UBEC.  "The superior RF features of the UZ2400
transceiver chip will enable a wide range of applications
envisioned by the ZigBee Alliance."

    Exhibition at Embedded Technology 2006

    A prototype of the ad-hoc peer-to-peer mesh network
using the SDK and the platform will be available for
viewing at Embedded Technology 2006, held November 15-17 at
Pacifico Yokohama, in NEC Electronics' booth #B32 in Exhibit
Hall B.

    Pricing and Availability

    Evaluation boards for the 78K0 are available now, and
additional boards for 78K0R and V850ES will be added in
early 2007, priced from US$150. The software development
kits will be available in early 2007, priced at US$980.
Pricing and availability are subject to change.  NEC
Electronics and Skyley Networks anticipate sales of more
than 1,000 licenses of the SDK by 2010.

    About ZigBee

    ZigBee is a wireless network technology that enables
long lifetime with low power consumption, using dry
batteries.  The technology is well-suited for a wide range
of building automation, industrial automation, medical and
residential control & monitoring applications.

    About NEC Electronics 

    NEC Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723) specializes in
semiconductor products encompassing advanced technology
solutions for the high-end computing and broadband
networking markets, system solutions for the mobile
handset, PC peripherals, automotive and digital consumer
markets, and platform solutions for a wide range of
customer applications.  NEC Electronics Corporation has 24
subsidiaries worldwide including NEC Electronics America,
Inc. ( http://www.am.necel.com ) and NEC Electronics
(Europe) GmbH ( http://www.eu.necel.com ). For additional
information about NEC Electronics worldwide, visit
http://www.necel.com .

    NEC Electronics is a member of the ZigBee Alliance as a
participant.

    About Skyley Networks Inc.

    Skyley Networks was established in 2001, and
specialized in the "P2P" (Peer-to-Peer) protocol
network technologies.  Skyley Networks rolled out its
proprietary P2P protocol, "DECENTRA", in 2002,
and has accumulated an enormous amount of experience in P2P
applications over wireless LAN and Bluetooth.  Additional
information about Skyley Networks can be found at
http://www.skyley.com .

    Skyley Networks is a member of the ZigBee Alliance as
an adopter.

    About Uniband Electronic Corporation

    UBEC is an international fabless semiconductor company
specializing in the design and manufacture of ICs for
wireless applications. With its headquarters in Hsin-Chu
Taiwan and an office in Silicon Valley, U.S.A.  UBEC offers
various RF solutions tailored to our customers' and
partners' needs.  Our mission is to develop high quality
products with competitive price-and-performance ratio and
time-to-market advantages for our customers.  Being
"customer-oriented" has always been the spirit of
UBEC's people and at UBEC customer always comes first. For
more information, visit the UBEC website at
http://www.ubec.com.tw .

    UBEC is a member of the ZigBee Alliance as a
participant.

    ZigBee is a trademark of the ZigBee Alliance.

    For more information, please contact:

    Japan    
     Sophie Yamamoto		
     NEC Electronics Corporation		    
     Tel:   [phone]		
     Email: [e-mail]		

    Japan
     Maria Hamada]
     Skyley Networks, Inc.
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

    Taiwan
     Andy Tsai
     Uniband Electronic Corporation
     Tel:   [phone] x6205
     Email: [e-mail]

SOURCE  NEC Electronics Corporation