Ramtron's MaxArias RF-enabled wireless memory

COLORADO SPRINGS, USA: Ramtron International Corp., the leading developer and supplier of nonvolatile ferroelectric random access memory (F-RAM) and integrated semiconductor products, has begun beta sampling its first MaxArias™ wireless memory product to customers across several industries.

Ramtron’'s MaxArias wireless memory combines the low power, high speed, and high endurance features of Ramtron’s nonvolatile F-RAM memory technology with wireless access to enable innovative data collection capabilities for a broad range of applications.

Ramtron’'s first family of wireless memory devices, named the MaxArias WM710xx product line, features F-RAM memory with passive UHF EPCglobal Class-1 Generation-2 wireless access in a transponder IC with 4-, 8-, and 16-Kilobit user memory densities.

The WM710xx family is ideal for applications spanning many industries including aircraft/industrial manufacturing, inventory control, maintenance tracking, building security, electronic toll collection, pharmaceutical tracking, and product authentication, among others. Production of WM710xx family is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2010.

“With our MaxArias line, Ramtron is creating a new category of wireless memory products that bring new data collection capabilities to a host of applications,” remarked Dan Secrest, Ramtron'’s senior marketing manager.

“Our MaxArias products will allow system integrators and users to reliably capture, transmit, and store more information using our RF-enabled devices. By employing the global EPC Gen-2 RFID protocol, coupled with our industry standard nonvolatile F-RAM, MaxArias can enhance efficiency in today’s fast-paced, global supply chains.”

“Beta sampling of Ramtron’s MaxArias family of wireless solutions is a critical step toward enlarging Ramtron’s addressable market and strengthening our F-RAM leadership,” said Bill Staunton, Ramtron’s chief executive officer.

“Our strategy is to build on our base of F-RAM memory business by leveraging low power F-RAM features to exploit emerging market opportunities and further differentiate F-RAM from other memory solutions, while continuing our aggressive pace of new product development. Initially, we plan to focus on the RFID market, specifically high-value asset tracking and wireless metering, among others.”