NUREMBERG, Germany, February 26 /PRNewswire/ --

- Atmel's CryptoCompanion IC Eliminates the Need for Designers to
Understand Complex Cryptographic Protocols and Algorithms

Embedded World -- Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML), today announced
its CryptoCompanion(TM) chip providing plug-and-play host-side cryptographic
security for embedded systems that are prone to counterfeiting, firmware
theft and the violation of licensing agreements. This plug-and-play
convenience means that designers do not have to design or test the
cryptographic algorithms. Systems likely to fall victim to counterfeiting
schemes include printers and printer cartridges, appliances with smart
batteries, set top boxes, video game consoles, video game cartridges, PDAs,
GPS, and any system with proprietary algorithms or secrets. According to the
International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition the problem of product
counterfeiting has grown over 10,000% in the last two decades.(1)

Until now, using very complex microprocessors, costing as much as US$5
each, was a common implementation to achieve true security for confidential
host algorithms and keys. Their complexity including the requirement of
special firmware or operating systems, extensive cryptographic experience on
the part of the engineer and their high cost has hindered their adoption.

Atmel's CryptoCompanion chip, when used with Atmel's CryptoMemory(R) and
CryptoRF(R) devices provides a highly secure, hardware-based total solution
for less than half the cost of complex microprocessors. Atmel's AT88SC016
CryptoCompanion chip is a completely engineered, single-chip host solution
that implements host algorithms and securely stores and manages the host
secrets required for secure communications. It integrates hardware
cryptographic engines, a cryptographic quality hardware random number
generator, and securely manages up to 16 host keys. The CryptoCompanion
executes all host-side operations including mutual authentication, data
encryption, firmware integrity verification, and generation of Message
Authentication Codes (MAC) for secure communication. Using the
CryptoCompanion chip, system developers do not need any knowledge of how to
implement cryptographic algorithms in order to develop complete secure
applications using CryptoMemory or CryptoRF.

This chip can also be used to create and manage up to 16 different memory
sectors on Crypto devices, each of which can have different levels of
read/write access with individual encryption and authentication keys and
passwords. CryptoMemory and CryptoRF have encryption keys and algorithms that
are completely inaccessible and, therefore, cannot be stolen or copied.

CryptoMemory devices are the world's only EEPROMs with a 64-bit embedded
hardware cryptographic engine, four sets of non-readable 64-bit
authentication keys, and four sets of non-readable 64-bit session encryption
keys. CryptoMemory's 64-bit crypto engine provides a strength-of-function
that is much greater than the commonly used 48-bit key length and even better
than the 56-bit key in the widely used DES algorithm. CryptoMemory features
dual authentication capability, up to 256 Kbits of usable memory, each with
up to 16 individually configurable sectors. It supports a 2-Wire and an IS0
7816-3 in T=0 mode communications interfaces. Atmel's 13.56 MHz CryptoRF
devices are secure RFID devices that embed the same cryptographic capability
and features as CryptoMemory in hardware, and comes with up to 64 Kbits of
usable memory.

Pricing and Packaging. Atmel's AT88SC016 CryptoCompanion chip is
available now in standard 8-pin SOIC packages and supports a 2-wire
interface. It is priced at 50 cents in volumes of 25,000 units. CryptoMemory
and CryptoRF devices are in volume production in a variety of configurations
and memory densities, and are priced from 30 cents and 75 cents,
respectively, in quantities of 25,000 units.

(1) The International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition, Media Information,
        web report URL: http://www.iacc.org/media/index.php.



About Atmel

Atmel is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of
microcontrollers, advanced logic, mixed-signal, nonvolatile memory and radio
frequency (RF) components. Leveraging one of the industry's broadest
intellectual property (IP) technology portfolios, Atmel is able to provide
the electronics industry with complete system solutions focused on consumer,
industrial, security, communications, computing and automotive markets.

(C) 2008 Atmel Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Atmel(R), logo and
combinations thereof, CryptoMemory(R) and CryptoRF(R) and others are
registered trademarks or trademarks of Atmel Corporation. CryptoCompanion(TM)
is a trademark of Atmel Corporation. Other terms and product names may be the
trademarks of others.

Information

Atmel's product information may be retrieved at:
http://www.atmel.com/products/SecureMem/ or
http://www.atmel.com/products/SecureRF/.

Press Contacts
    Sharon Harnisch, Marketing Communications Manager
    Tel: +1-719-540-1723, Email: sharnisch@cso.atmel.com

    Helen Perlegos, Public Relations
    Tel: +1-408-487-2963, Email: hperlegos@atmel.com

    Web site: http://www.atmel.com
              http://www.iacc.org/media/index.php