IRVINE, CA /PRNewswire/ -- RF Digital, a manufacturer of specialized wireless subsystems, announced a Wi-Fi module (Model Number RFD21715) that can provide up to a decade of battery life in a breakthrough form-factor package approximately 1 in. by 1 in. The extremely low power of the RFD21715 is based on GainSpan Corporation's GS1010 802.11 SoC, which is key to providing the extended battery life. Lengthy battery life opens up a raft of potential applications, such as building automation, utilities metering, telemetry and transportation, and supply chain management.
"Our customers will now be able to create an array of exciting products that leverage the existing ubiquitous Wi-Fi infrastructure while extending the battery life for sensors and other connected devices from 5 to 10 years," said Armen Kazanchian, CEO of RF Digital. "Utilizing GainSpan's innovative solutions, we were able to get the RFD21715 to market quickly and provide our customers with new capabilities previously not available."
With the RFD21715's small form-factor and flexible interface, OEMs can quickly and easily engineer products with Wi-Fi capabilities that will reduce energy consumption, cut costs, and improve efficiency because they are used on the existing infrastructure. The product integrates an application subsystem supported by a software development kit (SDK) that is available from RF Digital and GainSpan. The SDK integrates a robust RTOS, network stack, Wi-Fi, and I/O services that compress customer application development time by 9 to 12 months.
Other key features of the new RFD21715 module include AES encryption, TCP/IP (IPv4), UDP, DHCP, and SNMP, which provides for remote device configuration and management.
"We are very happy to be partnering with RF Digital. The company has a unique ability to reach a broad range of customers in the commercial and industrial markets—the same segments we've been targeting," said Vijay Parmar, CEO and President of GainSpan. "In addition, we've been very impressed with how quickly RF Digital not only designed the product but also got it ready for production shipment. RF Digital's module will expand deployment of Wi-Fi sensor networks by speeding OEMs' time to market."
The RFD21715 is available worldwide during the second half of 2008.
About RF Digital
RF Digital specializes in the design, manufacture, and distribution of short-range, miniaturized wireless components, including industry-standard and proprietary protocols. The company is a one-stop shop for electronic product providers seeking to enter the wireless market quickly, by offering off-the-shelf RF components that are already approved by the FCC. By combining FCC approval with state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities in both the U.S. and Asia, RF Digital helps customers lower their development costs and achieve fast time-to-market without requiring any RF expertise.
RF Digital was founded in 1999 by design engineer entrepreneur Armen Kazanchian, who has spent more than 20 years developing and manufacturing a wide range of products for major companies, including Motorola, Nokia, RadioShack, General Electric, and Audiovox. Today RF Digital products are supplied to a global customer base.
About GainSpan
GainSpan is a technology innovator and leader in Wi-Fi semiconductor and software solutions that provide years of battery life for sensors and other connected devices. GainSpan brings Wi-Fi sensor networks to life with breakthrough technology that leverages the ubiquitous Wi-Fi infrastructure and enables Wi-Fi devices to run up to 10 years on an AA battery. GainSpan solutions enable people to save money, save energy, and work smarter.