ARM Aligns With Microsoft Azure

Cambridge, UK, Sept. 29, 2015 - Microsoft has certified the ARM® mbed Enabled™ Freescale® FRDM-K64F development board for Internet of Things (IoT) products that securely gather and channel data into the public cloud platform, Microsoft Azure. This is the first ARM mbed™ board tested and verified by Microsoft Azure Certified for IoT to support the Microsoft Azure IoT Suite. Microsoft Azure is an open, flexible and trusted cloud platform used by the majority of Fortune 500 companies.

Developers using the ARM Cortex®-M4 based FRDM-K64F board will have access and guided instructions to the Microsoft Azure IoT Suite software development kits (SDK) published on Github. The libraries have been tested on the board and can be used with mbed applications through the mbed developer website to enable direct connectivity with Azure IoT Suite.

"The collaboration with Microsoft is testament to the growing influence of the ARM mbed IoT Device Platform," said Krisztian Flautner, general manager, IoT business, ARM. "Today's certification of the mbed Enabled Freescale FRDM-K64F board links our technology directly into Microsoft's public cloud platform. The connection into a powerful analytics platform will allow product developers to offer valuable new big data services at scale."

"Microsoft Azure IoT Suite helps enterprises capture and analyze untapped data to create new intelligence," said Barb Edson, general manager, Data Platform and Internet of Things, Microsoft. "Built on the Microsoft Cloud Platform, Azure IoT Suite integrates a business' existing processes, devices and systems. Microsoft Azure Certified for IoT helps companies to quickly implement the right hardware and software through verified interoperability for these devices, including the ARM mbed Enabled Freescale FRDM-K64F board."

"Freescale is leading the way in developing IoT solutions featuring our Kinetis MCUs and other IoT-ready silicon deployed with the mbed OS and ready for connectivity to Microsoft Azure's world class cloud computing platform," said Emmanuel Sambuis, director, MCU solutions, Freescale Semiconductor. "Freescale is pleased for its FRDM-K64F board to be Microsoft Azure Certified for IoT."

As part of a major collaboration between 29 partners, Microsoft, Freescale and ARM are also working together on the BBC micro:bit which will be given free to UK schools as part of a new IT skills program for one million children in year 7 (aged 11-12 years).

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