Infineon to Provide Key Components for 360

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Infineon Technologies AG announced today that it will supply three key components for the Microsoft Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system. Infineon will provide a removable solid-state memory unit product, a single-chip application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) wireless game-pad controller that makes cables unnecessary for game play, and an advanced security chip.

Xbox 360 consoles with Infineon-produced chips and components are expected to be on the shelves in the fourth quarter of this year. Financial details of the design collaboration and supply agreement were not disclosed.

"Collaboration with leading suppliers of semiconductors and electronic components is essential to the realization of Microsoft's vision to deliver entirely new capabilities in consumer entertainment," said Marc Whitten, Director, Xbox Peripherals at Microsoft.

"Infineon's broad and complementary IP portfolio, system integration skill, manufacturing expertise and proven track record were crucial factors in our decision to work with the company on these components."

Infineon is leveraging its IP in areas such as security, memory control and embedded firmware into ASIC-based system solutions for the Xbox 360. For the memory unit, the company designed an ASIC memory controller, created the embedded software that runs on the chip and designed the system printed circuit board. And the security chip is a custom implementation of Infineon's proven authentication technology.

SOURCE