RapidIO test lab goes independent

Tundra Semiconductor has transferred its RapidIO interoperability test lab to an independent third party, Fabric Embedded Tools (FET). This will help build the ecosystem to silicon and systems for the RapidIO high speed interconnect with more vendors demonstrating interoperability through the lab. Companies such as Freescale and Texas Instruments already have RapidIO interfaces on their chips and having the test centre independent of a competing chip company will help greatly.

The RIOLAB was established by Tundra in February 2006 for commercial semiconductor vendors, FPGA and ASIC developers, and OEMs, to validate interoperability of their products and test for specification compliance. The transfer of RIOLAB to FET marks the early achievement of a significant RIOLAB milestone - to transition the lab within 12 to 18 months of operation to a qualified independent third-party vendor within the ecosystem.

As part of the transition, RIOLAB will relocate to a new facility in Ottawa and will resume full operations by the end of February 2007.

"In starting RIOLAB, Tundra again demonstrated RapidIO leadership, and filled an important need to have an independent test facility focused on device interoperability and specification compliance within the RapidIO ecosystem," said Tom Cox, executive director of the RapidIO Trade Association. "With FET, an expert in the embedded test marketplace, RIOLAB will be well-equipped to continue providing state-of-the-art testing as RapidIO technology continues to be embraced as the standard in a wide range of embedded markets."