HEILBRONN, Germany, September 19 /PRNewswire/ --

Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today the availability of
its stand-alone ASK/FSK transceiver evaluation kit ATAB542x. The Wireless
BlackBird kit is designed to demonstrate the excellent RF capabilities of the
ATA542x transceiver series including the transceivers' communication
flexibility when paired with Atmel's ATmega3290 microcontroller.

The ATA542x (ATA5423/25/28/29) series is a highly integrated UHF ASK/FSK
multi-channel half-duplex transceiver family that offers the worldwide lowest
power consumption for RF transmission applications. The transceivers are
specially developed to meet industrial and consumer demands for RF low-cost
transmission systems including 2-way remote controls, power metering,
security, home automation, active RFID tags etc. The ATA542x series supports
the 315 MHz, 345 MHz, 433 MHz, 868 MHz, and 915 MHz frequency bands.

The ATAB542x kit is designed for an immediate out-of-the-box experience.
Industrial or consumer system designers can discover, without any additional
PC connection, the powerful capabilities of the ATA542x series when partnered
with Atmel's ATmega3290. This kit is also suitable for new users, who can
rapidly be brought up to speed using the step-by-step Quick Start card
provided.

The Wireless BlackBird evaluation kit consists of two 2" x 3.5" PC
boards, each with one ATA542x transceiver, custom LCD display, external
antenna, ISP and UART headers, miniature joystick, and 2 AA batteries. Using
the two transceiver boards, a communication link can be established within
seconds to easily demonstrate functions such as RSSI links, temperature and
light sensoring, and frequency hopping.

Availability and Pricing. The Wireless BlackBird evaluation kit is now
available at US $149 each and can be ordered from Atmel's official
distributors (see http://www.atmel.com/dyn/general/contact.asp).

Footnote
    ASK = Alternating Shift Keying
    FSK = Frequency Shift Keying
    LCD = Liquid Cristal Display
    RFID = Radio Frequency IDentification
    RSSI = Received Signal Strength Indication
    UART = Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter 
    UHF = Ultra High Frequency

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) 2007 Atmel Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Atmel(R), logo and
combinations thereof, and others are registered trademarks or trademarks of
Atmel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Other terms and product names may be
trademarks of others.

Information

Product information on Atmel's ASK/FSK Transceiver evaluation kit may be
retrieved at: http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/tools.asp?family_id=651, for
more information on Atmel's ASK/FSK transceiver ATA542x series go to:
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/devices.asp?family_id=651

Press Contacts
    Dr. Susanne van Clewe,
    Marcom Manager Communications and Automotive Products
    Phone: +49-7131-67-2081, Email: susanne.van-clewe@hno.atmel.com

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

Web site: http://www.atmel.com