Arasan Announces Support for Part A2 of the SDIO Version 2.0 Specification

San Jose, California - December 1, 2006 – Arasan Chip Systems, Inc. (“Arasan”), a leading supplier of reusable Intellectual Property (IP) cores, semiconductors and design services, today announced the availability of its SD / SDIO Host Controller Core , which supports the new Part A2 extensions of the SDIO Version 2.0 Specification.  Arasan, as the market leader in supplying SDIO IP, is once again the first to provide support for the new DMA enhancements targeted at improving the performance of SDIO cards used in consumer and computer products as a storage and connection medium.
 
“We have been working closely with the SDIO market leaders who already use our IP to make this enhancement available quickly so they can use it in their new products,” said Kevin Walsh, Vice President of Marketing for Arasan. “We intend to continue to improve our IP to meet the needs of consumers looking at these cards as the preferred means of mobile transfer and storage of pictures, music, and video.”
 
The Part A2 enhancement extends the basic DMA Part A1 capability to an advanced Scatter-gather method. The new method improves the performance allowing transfer to/from multiple memory locations in a single DMA transaction. The specification was developed by the members of the SD Association (SDA). SDA is a member’s only group to establish the technical and specification standards for SD Memory Card applications, to continuously promote the SD memory card as the de-facto industry standard, and to encourage the development of digital A/V, wireless communication, and digital networking products that utilize the many unique benefits of SD technology. Information is available at www.sdcard.org .
 
Other improvements include support for a 64bit System Bus, interfacing to the new SD High Capacity Card (SDHC), and the addition of Test Register to support event generation.
 
Total Technology Solution
 
Arasan provides a Total Technology Solution to all its licensees including IP source code, a test environment, sample device drivers, synthesis scripts, and complete technical documentation.  The Total Technology Solution also includes optional SDIO Development tools like the SD Host Validation Platform, SDIO Device Development Board, and SD/SDIO host Linux stack.  Arasan’s SDIO Host Validation Platform is a stand-alone board with the SDIO core used for compliance testing of SDIO Hosts as well as prototyping, including driver development. The SDIO Host Validation Platform is the easiest way to prototype and to demonstrate compliance for customers.  The Platform is available for purchase.
   
Arasan is an Executive Member of the SD Association, Multimedia Card Association and the CE-ATA Workgroup.
 
Pricing and Availability
 
Arasan’s SDIO Host IP is available immediately and existing customers will receive the upgrade as part of their existing maintenance agreement.

About Arasan

Arasan Chip Systems Inc. founded in 1995, is a leading supplier of Reusable Intellectual Property (IP’s) cores, semiconductors and electronic design services. Arasan’s product portfolio is focused on Bus Interfaces and includes IP’s for USB 1.1 & 2.0, PCI, SDIO and CE-ATA technologies. Arasan’s products and services enable businesses to develop and leverage product design and development. Arasan Chip Systems has been an executive member of SD Card Association since 2001, MMCA since 2003 and CE-ATA since 2004.  Arasan is headquartered in San Jose, California, with design centers in India and support options available in Taiwan, China & Europe.
Visit: www.arasan.com