Freescale Drives Innovation Around Future Netbook Concepts and Form Factors

As the "Smartbook" Category Takes Shape, Freescale Teams with Prestigious
Industrial Design Program to Demonstrate Next-Generation Form Factors
TAIPEI, Taiwan--(Business Wire)--
Smartbook devices based on ARM technology are rapidly emerging to fill the gap
between smaller-screened smartphones and traditional, PC-like netbook or
notebook products. To develop groundbreaking product concepts for this new
device category, Freescale has teamed with a top North American industrial
design program, resulting in an array of visionary smartbook prototypes on
display this week at the Computex show in Taiwan.

Sporting larger screens than traditional smartphone devices, smartbooks are
cloud-computing-centric and characterized by all-day battery life, instant-on
functionality and persistent connectivity. They are commonly powered by
processors based on ARM technology, such as Freescale`s i.MX515 device.

To demonstrate compelling new concepts that leverage these advantages, Freescale
engaged with the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) for a program to
explore requirements related to ergonomic issues, user interfaces, alternative
form factors and even accessories for next-generation smartbook devices.

"As the smartbook market emerges, new form factors and product categories will
evolve to support and better align with user needs, and our engagement with SCAD
demonstrates Freescale`s intention to lead this evolution," said Glen Burchers,
Consumer Segment marketing director for Freescale. "This initiative has given
Freescale valuable insight into how end-users prefer to interact with
smartbooks, and this knowledge will be fed back into our chip design processes,
ultimately resulting in future i.MX processors that enable compelling consumer
experiences and entirely new classes of consumer devices."

Tasked with creating new models and paradigms that improve on the designs and
user interfaces common to most first-generation netbook products, the
participants developed a range of highly innovative, yet practical, designs
optimal for leveraging the small, fanless dimensions and low-power operation of
Freescale`s i.MX515 processor. Students whose designs are selected as truly
exceptional will travel to Computex in Taipei to showcase their prototypes with
Freescale. They will also participate in a special panel presentation on June 4.

SCAD: The University for Creative Careers

SCAD is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution that offers more degree
programs and specializations than any other art and design university in the
United States. Last year, SCAD`s industrial design program was ranked among the
most prestigious in the nation by the Almanac of Architecture and Design.
Industrial design students work with the form and function of everyday products
- designing them to suit user needs while also considering the demands and
limitations of production. Coursework is combined with professional practice
involving actual clients on projects for industries including consumer
electronics, communications, entertainment, housewares, interaction, marine,
toys, lawn and garden, consumer products and transportation. www.scad.edu.

About Freescale Semiconductor

Freescale Semiconductor is a global leader in the design and manufacture of
embedded semiconductors for the automotive, consumer, industrial and networking
markets. The privately held company is based in Austin, Texas, and has design,
research and development, manufacturing or sales operations around the world.
www.freescale.com.

Reader Inquiry Response:
Freescale Semiconductor
P.O. Box 17927
Denver, CO 80217 USA

Freescale and the Freescale logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. The Power
Architecture and Power.org word marks and the Power and Power.org logos and
related marks are trademarks and service marks licensed by Power.org. All other
product or service names are the property of their respective owners. ©
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. 2009

Freescale Semiconductor
Americas:
Jack Taylor, 512-996-5161
jack.taylor@freescale.com
or
Asia-Pacific:
Gloria Shiu, (85-22) 666-8237
gloria.shiu@freescale.com
or
Europe, Middle East and Africa:
Laurent Massicot, (33-16) 935-7712
laurent.massicot@freescale.com
or
India:
Anjali Srivastava, (91-120) 395-0000
anjali.srivastava@freescale.com
or
Japan:
Masako Tanikawa, (81-3) 5437-9128
masako.tanikawa@freescale.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009