Connect One Ships First iChipSec CO2128 IP Controllers for M2M Applications Needing Network Security

Connect One[TM], the Device Networking Authority[TM], is proud to announce the first shipments of its iChipSec CO2128, a secure Internet Protocol (IP) communication controller chip that reduces cost and speeds design of IP-enabled machine-to-machine (M2M) applications needing IP connectivity and security. CO2128 works as a coprocessor that offloads IP and network security protocols from the host processor, freeing developers to focus on their core competency of application development. CO2128 is ideal for any application that needs secure IP connectivity, such as point-of-sale (POS) terminals, utility metering, video surveillance, and medical devices.Many Connect One customers have chosen to reduce their bill of materials and improve their product's performance by migrating from Connect One's iChipSec CO711AG chip to the CO2128. The new chip includes a 10/100BaseT Ethernet MAC and many interfaces, including USB v.2.0 full-speed host and device, a high-speed parallel bus, external bus, SPI, two-wire and USART interfaces. Security features include a random number generator, SHA-1/256 secure hash accelerator, AES-128/192/256 encryption accelerator, 3DES, SSL3/TLS1, and WEP/WPA2 encryption for WiFi. iChipSec also acts as a router among LAN, WiFi and modem platforms, serving as an access point or gateway, which further reduces infrastructure cost and enhances network security.

"We chose CO2128 because it is a complete hardware and software solution for secure Internet access," says Marc Decre, president of Delta Design, a communication module manufacturer located in Korbeek-lo, Belgium. "We didn't have in-depth knowledge to develop secure IP connectivity on our own, so we wanted to have only one address to go to for support. Connect One's products and support always have been excellent."

"Delta Design is another example of how quickly iChipSec can be designed into an product to lower its cost and enhance its functionality," notes Alan Singer, Connect One vice president of sales and marketing. "We just announced CO2128 in November and already we have customers who have designed it into their products. As a highly integrated and flexible system-on-a-chip with the latest in secure IP networking protocols, CO2128 enables customers to reduce time-to-market and win market share, while reducing development and ongoing costs."

CO2128's tightly integrated ARM7 core processor, real time operating system, security and networking protocol stack ensure efficient and secure high-speed transaction processing. For high bandwidth applications like video streaming, CO2128's high-speed parallel interface supports up to 32 Mbps with UDP/IP hardware acceleration. Data encryption/decryption also is accelerated in hardware, which tremendously speeds up SSL3 transaction processing time.

With over 1,000,000 iChips deployed in more than 50 countries, Connect One supports a wide range of Internet protocols and communication drivers for moving data over 10/100BaseT LANs, 802.11b/g WiFi networks, cellular and dial-up networks. CO2128 supports up to 10 simultaneous TCP and UDP sockets, permitting the application to connect to multiple servers concurrently; two TCP listening sockets that enable it to act as a server; SMTP, POP3, MIME, HTTP, FTP and Telnet clients; and a Web server hosting one Web site for configuring iChipSec and one for the application.

Because CO2128 works as a coprocessor, there is no need for designers to program or write code that controls connectivity or application security. Instead, the logical interface between the host application and iChipSec is Connect One's AT+i[TM] Protocol, a high-level API that enables fast and easy implementation and maintenance of the security and Internet protocols. AT+i requires no Internet programming expertise on the part of the designer and minimum modification of the host application.