Thursday, October 25, 2007

Freescale Opens Eighth Design Center in China

Embedded computer chip manufacturer Freescale Semiconductor reported Wednesday that it has opened a new design center in Chengdu, China. The Austin, Texas-based company said the facility, which should employ 100 engineers by the end of 2009, will focus on developing its TD-SCDMA technologies. Freescale also said the center will help design next-generation radio frequency products and develop microcode technology for the company's QUICC Engine architecture. Freescale noted that the Chengdu facility is but one of its eight design labs located throughout mainland China. Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Suzhou also host Freescale operations, the company added. Having operated in China since 1992, Freescale claims to be the first U.S.-based company to establish a semiconductor manufacturing facility in the People's Republic, as well as the first to establish a joint-venture integrated circuit design center.