Motorola Offers Free Soft Modem Reference Design

Tool Based on ColdFire(R) MCF5407 Microprocessor Simplifies Development of Low-Data Rate Applications

AUSTIN, Texas - January 27, 2003 - To meet the increasing need to add connectivity in various types of embedded systems, Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) is making available a soft modem reference design. Based on a high performance 32-bit microprocessor - the MCF5407 - this newest tool is engineered to enable systems designers to reduce development times and overall system costs in applications where low-cost connectivity is key such as remote utility management and data logging. By using a soft modem, companies may obtain and analyze information from anywhere in the world, simply by using a phone line to connect.

The third in a series of application-specific reference designs based on Motorola's ColdFire architecture, the soft modem reference design includes schematics, an applications note and source code available FREE for download to appropriately registered users from the Motorola web site. This overall package demonstrates Motorola's commitment to customers by delivering design resources engineered to help make designing and developing embedded systems easy and time- and cost-effective.

"Modems provide the most cost-effective solution in many applications where a phone call is made to exchange diagnostic, financial or authentication information between a central information server and end equipment," said Dr. Franz Fink, general manager for Motorola's 32-Bit Embedded Controller Division. "This offering makes it easy for customers to add exactly this kind of low-cost connectivity to their systems thereby helping to keep development costs low and speed time-to-market."

This newest design tool is ideally suited for applications with infrequent, small data transfers [less than a few hundred bytes] such as remote utility management, remote data logging, point-of-sale terminals, transaction terminals, home automation systems, security systems, and set-top box back channel operations. In these applications, "less is more", with the soft modem connection quickly established and the transaction complete before a higher speed modem would have finished negotiating the connection. Connecting via a modem and phone line is convenient because the system can be called at any time, from any place, to get a up-to-the-minute, comprehensive status report on all conditions being monitored including statistics such as quality level, real-time pricing or even power, voltage, time and errors.

ColdFire MCF5407 Microprocessor Soft Modem Reference Design Features The soft modem reference design was developed to enable customers to easily add connectivity features in applications where typical transactions contain less than a few hundred bytes of data. The free soft modem reference design features:

-- Full schematics detailing the hardware design and software development
-- Detailed applications note
-- Soft modem application software available in optimized source code

Key features of the ColdFire MCF5407 microprocessor include:

--V4 ColdFire processor core with Harvard memory architecture and branch cache acceleration logic
-- 316 (Dhrystone 2.1) MIPS @ 220 MHz
-- 16K instruction-cache, 8K data-cache
-- 4KB SRAM
-- Multiply Accumulate (MAC) with integer and fractional capabilities
-- Industry leading debug module offering both background and real-time capability
-- Hardware integer divide unit
-- Integrated processor (DRAM controller, 1 UART, 1 synchronous UART, four fully programmable DMA Channels, eight chip selects, 16-bit general purpose I/O, two 16-bit timers, I2C module, System Integration -- PLL, Software watchdog)

Price and Availability This ColdFire microprocessor soft modem reference design includes design, application notes and software and is available now at no cost to registered users of Motorola's Web site. Visit www.Motorola.com/ColdFire.

The M5407C3 evaluation platform is available for purchase from Motorola for $650 (US) and provides an excellent foundation upon which to implement the free reference design. The MCF5407 evaluation boards are shipped with a full suite of evaluation software from leading tools vendors.

About ColdFire Integrated Microprocessors The variable-length RISC ColdFire architecture is designed to give Motorola customers greater flexibility to lower memory and system costs. ColdFire cores combine the architectural simplicity of conventional 32-bit RISC with memory-saving, variable-length instruction sets. Because instructions can be 16-, 32- or 48-bits long, code is packed tighter in memory resulting in better code density than traditional 32- and 64-bit RISC machines. More efficient use of on-chip memory reduces bus bandwidth and the external memory required, which can result in lower system cost. The ColdFire integrated microprocessor product portfolio offers a versatile mix of performance, price, integration and debugging capabilities for embedded systems designers and is supported by a wide variety of development tools from Motorola and independent suppliers.

About Motorola As the world's #1 producer of embedded processors, Motorola's Semiconductor Products Sector creates DigitalDNA™ system-on-chip solutions for a connected world. Our strong focus on wireless communications and networking enables customers to develop smarter, simpler, faster and synchronized products for the person, work team, home and automobile. Motorola's worldwide semiconductor sales were $4.9 billion (USD) in 2001. http://www.motorola.com/semiconductors

Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) is a global leader in providing integrated communications and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 2001 were $30 billion. http://www.motorola.com