Limerick-based Ashling Microsystems has signed a deal to create development tools for Silicon Valley-based Silicon Storage Technology (SST) Inc’s high security smart card devices. The value of the deal was not disclosed.
Under the terms of the agreement Ashling will supply development tools for SST’s Theseus Titanium chips. The tools include hardware emulators, source-level debug software and software drivers.
SST’s Theseus Titanium family are flash memory-based smart card chips that include 100pc user configurable memory and a variety of security features.
More than 170 million of these high security devices have been sold worldwide. The deal with Ashling will enable SST to seize faster time to market opportunities.
John Murphy, managing director of Ashling Microsystems, commented: “SST chose Ashling because of our expertise in smart card development tools. Theseus Titanium developers will benefit from our many years of experience supporting the smart card market with best-in-class development tools.”
Ashling and SST expect the development kit for SST’s smart card chips to be available in June this year.
“We believe this co-operation with Ashling strengthens the growing ecosystem for our smart card IC solutions,” said Jack Berg, engineering director for smart card ICs (integrated circuits) at SST.
“These improved tools will allow our customers to efficiently develop higher-end codes, such as Java card operating systems, thus enabling them to quickly bring to market products based on our Theseus Titanium smart card IC,” Berg said.
By John Kennedy
