Atmel Offers Seamless 802.15.4/ZigBee Migration for AVR-based Embedded Sensor
Atmel Corporation has announced an 802.15.4/ZigBee solution that offers seamless migration to wireless networking for the more than 30,000 AVR-based designs in automotive, industrial, and building control applications. The AVR Z-Link solution includes Atmel's low power, high sensitivity 2.4 GHz AT86RF230 802.15.4 radio, a low power ATmega1281 or ATmega 2561 AVR microcontroller, and a small footprint, compliant media access control (MAC) software applicable for the AVR architecture. Network and application layer software are provided by the Atmel's network of expert third-party vendors who offer solutions in the IEEE 802.15.4 standard and the ZigBee protocols.
Atmel's AT86RF230 Z-Link radio is available now in a 5x5mm QFN package. The ATmega1281 and ATmega 2561 microcontrollers are available now in 9x9mm QFN packages. Atmel's AVR 802.15.4 chip set is available in the following bundle configurations, in quantities of 10,000 or more units: ATmega64RZA Bundle of ATmega644 and AT86RF230 $4.93; ATmega128RZA Bundle of ATmega1281 and AT86RF230 $6.78; ATmega256RZA Bundle of ATmega2561 and AT86RF230 $7.63; The RZ502 AVR Z-Link Accessory Kit is available for $99.00; The RZ200 AVR Z-Link Demonstration Kit is available for $499.00.
(Sure hope ABEW is going to be part of this arrangement. I do know for a fact that ABEW received their certification using an Atmel chip with a Chipcon radio.)
