TDK SEMICONDUCTOR AND SEIKO LAUNCH INTERNET MODEM.

TDK Semiconductor Corp., a designer and manufacturer of communications semiconductors for worldwide markets, has partnered with Seiko Instruments USA of Torrance, CA. to provide the world's first streaming socket technology based Internet modem. The product, marketed by Seiko as the iChip Internet Modem Module (IMM), is an industry first combining a true single-chip embedded modem with the iChip TCP/IP/PPP hardware protocol stack, thus offering complete Internet connectivity.

Seiko surveyed a number of embedded modem IC suppliers and concluded that TDK Semiconductor and the company's 73M2901C device offered the best design approach, particularly the product's ease-of-use, advanced feature set and low bill of materials (BOM) cost. In addition, Seiko knew that TDK Semiconductor provided outstanding customer support.

"Our customers asked us to provide an integrated TCP/IP modem product that suits their technology requirements. Partnering with TDK Semiconductor and designing-in their fast-connect modem, allowed us to create the IMM. The result of working together made for a solution which is extremely easy to design-in for embedded applications," says Don Feeney, general manager for Seiko Instruments USA.

Jeff Sorensen, a senior engineer and 20-year veteran of modem applications at TDK Semiconductor, says, "The 73M2901C offers the highest level of integration available today, making it physically small enough for the modular form factor, and virtually eliminating the need to specify hard-to-source passive components."

The 73M2901C is an extension of TDK Semiconductor's popular 73M2901 device released in 1999. It combines all the controller (DTE) and data pump functions necessary to implement an intelligent V.22bis data modem. Typical applications may include set-top box, point-of-sale terminals, automatic teller machines, hand-held communication devices, metering and vending devices, and smart card readers. The company plans to further expand this line of IC devices in the near future.

Seiko Instruments' semiconductor technology originated in the integrated circuits used in Seiko watches. This application demands ultra-low power consumption coupled with precision performance, high processing accuracy and top quality. Seiko Instruments has adapted this basic CMOS technology to create a line of standard products for energy management. Products include: Switching Regulators, Voltage Detectors, Mini Logic ASSPs, Low DropOut (LDO) Voltage Regulators, Timer ASSPs, Sensors and Low Voltage E(2)PROMs.

TDK Semiconductor, part of the $5.6 billion TDK Corporation , is a leader in advanced technology IC solutions for communications markets. The company designs and manufactures semiconductor solutions for local- and wide-area networking, embedded modem subsystems, set-top boxes and digital TV applications. Its products are used globally for connectivity and data acquisition.

TDK Semiconductor can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.tdksemiconductor.com/

For more information, call 714/508-8821.