Intel inks licensing agreement with Plessey Semiconductors, gets into the sensor game
Intel signed a licensing agreement with Plessey Semiconductors today, giving it access to the UK chipmaker's array of sensors. Founded in 1957, Plessey produces cell phone radios, motion sensors and a host of other chips. The company also licensed its wireless LAN chipset to Apple back in 1994 and, in 1992, became the first licensee of ARM's architecture. Under the deal, Intel will receive the option to buy a financial security in Plessey at a later date, while Plessey, in turn, will be able to support a limited number of Intel's digital tuner products. It remains to be seen what Intel has in store with its new sensor licenses, but we're certainly looking forward to it.
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Intel and Plessey Sign Licensing and Warrant Agreements
Plymouth, ENGLAND – 10 January 2012 – Plessey Semiconductors announced today that it has agreed to a product licensing agreement with Intel Corporation and a share warrant agreement with Intel Capital. Under the terms of the licensing agreement, Plessey will be licensed to manufacture, sell and support a select number of products in Intel's digital tuner portfolio. The warrant agreement is for an unspecified number of shares in Plessey's holding company.
Michael LeGoff, Managing Director for Plessey, said, "We are delighted to have concluded the licensing and warrant agreements with Intel and Intel Capital and we look forward to working closely with them as Plessey continues to grow its international presence."
Marc Alexander, Director – Technology Licensing - Intel Capital, added, "This is the start of what we hope will become a long term relationship and a great collaboration between Intel Labs Europe team, Intel's Technology Manufacturing Group, Intel Capital and Plessey to support these licensed products and to provide world class service to the existing Intel customers using Plessey's capabilities."
Marcos Battisti, Managing Director Intel Capital Western Europe and Israel, commented, "We are very pleased to have concluded these agreements with Plessey and look forward to a fruitful collaboration."
Plessey recently issued press releases identifying the availability of samples for ECG and movement sensing specific EPIC products. More recently, Plessey announced that it had won the NMI R&D Achievement award, the IET award for Measurement in Action, and its EPIC Sensor technology was identified in EDN magazine's HOT 100 Products for 2011 and named product of the year by Electronic Products magazine.
