Theoretically, who has the capability to develop superior system-in-silicon solutions: chip companies or system companies? Although few system houses succeed in the chip business, you would think that they should have the insight and expertise to develop useful system level silicon. Today's boards are tomorrow's chips. Modern tools, cores and independent foundries should enable system companies to capture a share of the system-on-chip market.

Netsilicon (formerly NetSilicon) is attempting to do just that with its NET+ARM product line. It has integrated all the components on its board level printer server, except memory and PHY, onto a single chip while at the same time making the device applicable to any number of products that can benefit from Ethernet and Internet connectivity. Industrial controls, printers, networked peripherals, medical devices, building controls, POS equipment, WAN equipment, and security systems, to name a few, can all benefit from network connectivity. Network enabled products can incorporate functions such as remote installation and setup; automatic alerts and monitoring; data transfer via FTP; and diagnostics and repair. A product could contain embedded web pages, and utilize FTP and email to initiate actions such as sending an email when a printer's toner is low or a copying machine requires service. According to NetSilicon, the network system-on-silicon market is currently $1 billion growing to a staggering $17 billion in 2001.

Today you can add network connectivity to a product by integrating products such as a processor, Ethernet MAC, RTOS, TCP/IP, HTTP, SMPT and FTP applications, etc. from a multitude of vendors. A daunting task for many companies, and probably unrealistic for most applications given today's time-to-market demands. NET+ARM combines everything needed into a tightly integrated IC and software solution, thereby reducing development cycles by months, and lowering product and development cost. NetSilicon's solution will enable non-computer OEMs to network their products. The chip & software list for $30 - $40 @ 10ku, significantly lower then competing solutions that can cost from $70 - $200 in addition to costly development time.

The NET+ARM IC integrates an ARM7TDMI 32-bit RISC core; a 10/100 Ethernet MAC (licensed from Packet Engines); memory controller; 10 Channel DMA Controller; microprocessor bus interface; serial, parallel and GPIO ports; bus controller; timers; and clock generator. The device achieves about 12 - 15 MIPS performance and only uses 20% of the ARM7's headroom, leaving 80% of the processing capacity available for customer application code. An application that require more horsepower or uses a dedicated processor can communicate with the Net+ARM over a shared RAM interface, the ENI or embedded network interface. The RTOS is Integrated Systems pSOS, although other alternatives are available. NetSilicon provides complete networking software and protocols for Internet and TCP applications, including APIs. The software includes 10/100BaseT Ethernet and Internet protocols, HTTP and FTP client and server, web browser, mail servers, and a host of drivers and interfaces. The development environment combines tools from NetSilicon, ARM and ISI. NET+ARM NCC includes full NOS support for print/imaging server applications while NET+ARM pSOS includes TCP and Internet networking. NET+ARM NCC is $40 @ 20Ku and NET+ARM pSOS is $30. Atmel fabricates the device and has some rights to the core, although ARM+Trade ICs will be marketed exclusively by NetSilicon.

We believe the emergence of embedded Internet connectivity in a multitude of products goes without saying. It will happen. It is happening. The question is "How will it be accomplished?" High end products use embedded computers, an approach that's unworkable for lower-cost products. iReady has decided to unburden developers from software concerns by using a hardwired approach that will be incorporated into ASIC libraries, which seems more fitting for high volume, highly targeted applications. For the masses, the best approach is probably an off the shelf system-level "network connectivity IC."

NetSilicon is one of the first suppliers to recognize this market and offer an integrated solution. The company believes that if a product needs to be networked, the BOM is less than $1000, and the projected volume is more than 5ku then Net+ARM is the solution. We believe that its biggest challenge will be converting customers from their existing microprocessors to the ARM camp. Over 20 vendors have licensed the ARM architecture and countless others utilize it via their foundry providers. ARM's growing recognition as the leading RISC IP supplier should help alleviate this issue. NetSilicon's roadmap includes a full family of products that will feature performance from 12 to 120 MIPS; an integrated PHY; PCI interface; higher integration levels including embedded memory; and additional network topologies such as wireless LAN 802.11, wireless mobile PCS, 1394, and CAN.

Many printer and print server manufacturers, including Adobe, Brother, Kyocera, Minolta, NEC, Peerless, Sharp, Xerox and Xionics, have incorporated NetSilicon technology into their products. Current Net+ARM design-wins include Adobe, Minolta, NEC, Peerless, Sharp, and Xionics. Lantronix will use NET+ARM in a terminal server. PicoStar plans to use the IC in a digital video camera. The embedded networking solutions division is a wholly owned subsidiary of NetSilicon. The division is an outgrowth of DPI, the printer server division acquired by NetSilicon in Sept. '96. DPI is a leader in the embedded Internet/Ethernet printing market. NetSilicon's '97 sales were about $140 million. The company has 1,500 employees worldwide. NetSilicon plans to establish an independent sales channel for the Net+ARM product line. Pete Petersen is looking for a VP of sales and is actively hiring sales reps. worldwide.

Cornelius "Pete" Peterson VIII, Chairman, CEO, President
William Peisel, Executive VP, Engineering, CTO
Daniel Sullivan, VP, Finance and Administration, CFO
John Brennan, VP, Operations
Michael Evensen, VP, Industrial Automation, Embedded Markets, Europe
Cornelius “Neil" Peterson IX, VP, Imaging and Embedded Markets, Asia
Richard Andersen, VP, Marketing
Eric Kraieski, VP, Product Marketing