DALLAS, July 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Instruments
Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) today premiered its first module
platform housing the WiLink™ 6.0 (WL1271) single-chip, wireless
combo solution with TI's open source, Linux-based OpenLink™
drivers. The OpenLink drivers are built on the community-validated
mac80211 Wi-Fi driver and BlueZ Bluetooth® protocol stack.
The first in a series of such open source platforms from TI, the
new WiLink 6.0 OpenLink platform is pre-integrated with TI's AM18x
Sitara™ ARM® microprocessors (MPUs). This enables customers
developing industrial or point-of-service applications on
cost-effective ARM MPUs to easily introduce reliable, low-power
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless technologies. More information
can be found here: www.ti.com/am18x-pr
Introducing OpenLink Wi-Fi access points
Today's release also signifies the first time TI's customers can
easily repurpose Sitara ARM MPU-based designs as Wi-Fi access
points via the new WiLink 6.0 OpenLink platform. OpenLink
technology offers mobile-grade, battery-optimized Wi-Fi
connectivity supporting native Linux designs, giving customers
tested wireless technologies that can be easily re-integrated into
designs as they migrate from one kernel version to the next.
Additionally, TI's mac80211 Wi-Fi driver is optimized to maximize
system level throughput.
As a result, battery-friendly customer products built on Sitara
ARM MPUs can serve as a mobile Wi-Fi gateway or support
peer-to-peer file transfers with other Wi-Fi enabled devices. These
capabilities eliminate the need for external access points and
create new opportunities for unique use cases depending on mobile,
self-networking devices.
The quick-start experience and other key features
The AM18x Sitara ARM EVM + WL1271 Development Kit is the latest
version of TI's original AM18x Sitara ARM EVM and includes elements
that create a unique, quick-start experience right out of the box.
Meaning a user can be up and running with a demo application in 30
minutes or less.
Other key features include:
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Feature
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Benefits
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OpenLink™ open source
drivers
(Wi-Fi and
Bluetooth
technologies)
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- Native Linux connectivity
solutions
- Simplified re-integration with
Linux kernel upgrades
- Peer-tested
technologies
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Predefined, validated hardware
interfaces and software functionality
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- Minimized risk and design
trade-off analysis
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WPA supplicant, hostapd, BlueZ
Stack, Open Obex software profiles
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- Inclusion of all components
required for end-to-end connectivity functionality
- First-time availability of soft
access point via AM18x Sitara ARM EVM
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Integrated system
components
(all firmware, low-level drivers
and applications)
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- Reduced engineering costs,
faster time-to-market
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Optimized system-level power
consumption and throughput
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- Lower power, higher throughput
in complex system use cases
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Robust TI E2E community and
third party support
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- Innovation through
collaboration
- Faster
time-to-market
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Pricing and availability
The production-ready WiLink 6.0 (WL1271) OpenLink module is
packaged as a daughter card and bundled in the AM18x Sitara ARM EVM
+ WL1271 Development Kit, priced at $1,150.00. For customers already working on an
AM18x Sitara ARM EVM, the standalone daughter card is available for
$249. [Note: The WiLink 6.0 OpenLink
daughter card is compatible with all existing AM18x Sitara ARM
EVMs, except the AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU.]
- TI's AM18x EVM + WL1271 Development Kit:
www.ti.com/AM18x-pr-es
- TI's standalone WiLink 6.0 daughter card:
www.ti.com/AM18xWLDC-pr-es
Find out more about TI's wireless connectivity
solutions
- TI's OpenLink software development kit:
www.ti.com/openlink-sdk
- TI's OpenLink community site: http://openlink.org
- TI's WiLink 6.0 solution (WL1271): www.ti.com/wilink6
- TI's AM1808 Sitara ARM MPU: www.ti.com/am1808
- TI's wireless connectivity solutions:
www.ti.com/wirelessconnectivity
- TI's wireless connectivity Wiki: www.ti.com/connectivitywiki
About Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments semiconductor innovations help 80,000
customers unlock the possibilities of the world as it could be –
smarter, safer, greener, healthier and more fun. Our commitment to
building a better future is ingrained in everything we do – from
the responsible manufacturing of our semiconductors, to caring for
our employees, to giving back inside our communities. This is just
the beginning of our story. Learn more at www.ti.com.
Trademarks
WiLink, Sitara and OpenLink are trademarks of Texas Instruments.
All registered trademarks and other trademarks belong to their
respective owners.
www.ti.com/wireless
SOURCE Texas Instruments Incorporated