OTTAWA -- Tundra Semiconductor Corporation (TSX:TUN), the leader in System Interconnect, today announced that the Tsi568A Serial RapidIO Switch is in full production. Tundra continues to lead in the development of the RapidIO standard and was the first semiconductor vendor to bring parallel and serial RapidIO switches to market. With more than one RapidIO switch in production and development platforms available, Tundra is recognized as a market leader and continues to advance RapidIO System Interconnect. Tundra is committed to bringing high performance RapidIO products to market to meet the rapidly growing demand from customers now designing with the RapidIO technology.

Launched in February 2005, the Tsi568A is a high performance switch with patent-pending technology that delivers the performance, power and configurability that embedded designers need to build reliable, high performance RapidIO-based systems, such as wireless base stations. Based on the Serial RapidIO Specification, the Tsi568A incorporates SerDes functionality, error recovery, priority-based and table-based fabric routing and high payload efficiency. This switch interconnects serial RapidIO-enabled processors and peripheral devices, supporting an aggregate bandwidth of 80 gigabits per second. Ideally suited for a broad spectrum of wireless, video, and networking applications, designers can take advantage of the switch's multiple port width and speed configuration options to efficiently manage power requirements.

"Production status of the first serial RapidIO switch on the market marks an important ecosystem milestone for customers and the RapidIO community," said Rick O'Connor, chief technology officer at Tundra. "Our switches combined with the available development platforms offer customers the opportunity to evaluate and design their next-generation RapidIO-based systems with confidence."

Accelerated Deployment of High Performance, Low Risk RapidIO-based Products
By continuing to demonstrate higher levels of interoperability with industry leaders such as, Texas Instruments, Tundra is striving to provide customers with the benefits of lower design risk and faster time to market.

"Developers in the video infrastructure and wireless infrastructure markets need flexible, scalable silicon choices and tools to help keep pace with market trends that require high bandwidth interconnect, such as high-definition (HD) and broadband mobile communication," said Pradeep Bardia, video infrastructure marketing manager, Texas Instruments. "Our TMS320C6455 DSP, the industry's first RapidIO-enabled DSP, combined with the Tundra Tsi568A Serial RapidIO Switch, continues to transform DSP aggregation applications allowing accelerated time to market."

"The Tundra switches are an essential element of the RapidIO ecosystem and are the momentum behind serial RapidIO product deployment from single board computer vendors and OEM companies," said Tom Cox, executive director of the RapidIO Trade Association. "Tundra continues to advance RapidIO System Interconnect and this reflects the Company's on-going leadership of the technology."

Tundra Semiconductor Corp. (Toronto: TUN)