Future Electronics and ADD semiconductor extend distribution agreement to global franchise

Future Electronics and ADD semiconductor, the high-performance powerline communication (PLC) IC company for smart metering, lighting, and home/building automation applications, today announced that both companies have extended their agreement for distribution of ADD's powerline communication SoCs to a global franchise. ADD specializes in the design of system-on-chip (SoC) PLC solutions for narrow band communications using the low voltage electric grid transmission medium that turns the existing electric grid into a reliable and easy-to-use 'smart grid' topology. Powerline communication is applicable in multiple fields such as residential automation, control systems, tertiary buildings, telemetering, lighting, security and protection, white line, machine-to-machine (M2M) applications. "We are pleased to have expanded our business partnership with Future Electronics to a global level. Their expertise in marketing, supply chain management and engineering is pivotal to our success in serving the RF market and growing PLC demand in the Americas," commented Guillaume d'Eyssautier, CEO of ADD. "Powerline communication is becoming an important communication standard in the Americas," explained Nathan Lee, Technical Marketing Manager for Future Energy Solutions, a division of Future Electronics. "Within the home we're seeing a mix of wireless and wired technologies. Building control for commercial properties as well as smart meters and sub-metering are also focusing on using the best of wired and wireless communications." The ADD powerline communications design solution combines an inexpensive 8-bit microcontroller with MAC circuitry and a high performance digital PLC modem in an SoC, supported by software libraries, reference designs, and development tools, and for those customers implementing the PRIME architecture, an upper layer stack. Equipment from ADD has successfully passed the certification process defined by the PRIME Alliance Certification Task Group, and its products are now certified as entirely compliant with PRIME specifications. ADD is the first silicon technology vendor to achieve this certification. About Future Electronics' Energy Solutions Group: Future Energy Solutions is a provider of components, engineering solutions and system solutions that address the global need to reduce carbon emissions and become more energy efficient. Future Energy Solutions is applying Future Electronics' engineering knowledge, logistics, supply chain expertise and financial strength to help the world reduce energy consumption, move to renewable energy sources and reduce carbon emissions. For additional information please visit: www.futureenergysolutions.com About ADD semiconductor: Established in 2001, ADD semiconductor (Advanced Digital Design S.A.) is backed by ADARA Venture Partners and is the founding member of "Prime". The company is the leader of SR2 European project and they were the leader of Spanish consortium of WITNESS project. Both of these are inside the microelectronic cluster of EUREKA European program for R&D projects. ADD semiconductor was also one of the key partners of the prestigious OPEN METER and OPERA consortiums, both integrated projects of the European Frame Programs for R&D projects. Headquartered in Zaragoza (Spain), ADD semiconductor has offices in Orlando, Florida, USA, Beijing, China and Pune, India. The company is comprised of 44 highly qualified employees, 25 of which are solely dedicated to the R&D activities. ADD semiconductor is a world leader in the development of low cost and high efficiency systems on a single chip (SoC) for communications and digital signal processing applications. Additionally, the company is involved in an ambitious international development plan for European Powerline standard. For more information, visit: www.addsemi.com