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FTDI commits to supporting Android Open Accessories Initiative

16th May 2011

Future Technology Devices International Limited

ES Admin

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Future Technology Devices International Limited (FTDI) will be exhibiting at this year’s Maker Faire – Bay Area (21st & 22nd May, San Mateo Events Center, California). The event, which celebrates innovation at all levels, from the hobbyist through to multinational corporations, is now in its sixth year, and to coincide with this FTDI has announced its commitment to supporting the Android Open Accessories initiative, thus allowing engineers to realize exciting new system designs that are compatible with tablets and smartphones utilizing the highly popular Android operating system.

FTDI is very excited about the new Android Open Accessories initiative and in response has decided to provide support for it in both the Vinculum II dual USB host/device controller IC and the low cost Vinco development board product offerings” states the company’s CEO and founder Fred Dart. “We expect this to have a major impact on the way engineers carry out future development projects, giving them access to a far greater breadth of device connectivity.”

This move will prove to be of great benefit to engineers using the company’s Arduino-inspired Vinco platform (which was released in November 2010) to create USB 2.0 connected embedded systems. The major advantage that Vinco has over other development platforms of this kind is that the host controller capability is already integrated into the board itself. This means that design engineers do not need to budget for an extra USB host controller card/IC to implement Android Open Accessories.

“As Vinco incorporates USB host controller functionality, it totally eliminates the need for any secondary host controller hardware to be added, thereby dramatically shortening the development process and reducing the bill of materials Dart adds. “As a result more ambitious, imaginative and cost-effective designs will be possible.”

Those visiting the FTDI booth at Marker Faire will also have the opportunity to learn about the company’s “Instant USB” active assemblies, which include the DB9-USB-RS232 retrofit module (which can be used to upgrade a legacy RS232 DB9 port to an active USB port without the need to redesign the system) as well as other members of its expanding line of Instant USB cables.