Itron Selects Accent Single Chip Solution for Smart Metering Applications

• Highly Integrated, Customized System-on-Chip Offering to Dramatically Reduce System BOM and Increase Performance Versus Standard Products
• State-of-The-Art Design to Incorporate ARM® CortexTM-M3 Processor and complete ZigBeeTM PRO Functionality

Milan, Italy, and Liberty Lake, Wash. -- October 15, 2009 -- Accent S.p.A., a leading fabless SoC provider offering highly differentiated platform-based System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions, and Itron (Nasdaq:ITRI), the industry leader in advanced metering technology, today announced Itron’s selection of Accent to supply a newly developed integrated circuit for its OpenWay® CENTRON® smart meter product line. The new design will integrate the latest ARM processor technology, a complete ZigBee wireless solution (RF, baseband and protocol stack), as well as an LCD driver and on-chip embedded flash memory to deliver best-in-class performance, highly reduced BOM and lowest system cost.

Powerful processing capability combined with broad range analogue, digital and RF hardware peripherals will enable a single processor core solution for communication, control as well as user application software, thus eliminating the need for multiple processors while significantly reducing power consumption. In order to meet the processing demands of the utility advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) industry, the product offering will utilize the Cortex-M3 CPU from ARM. The new device integrates a complete ZigBee PRO solution, including an IEEE 802.15.4 RF transceiver, PHY, MAC and communication stack including Smart Energy profile focused on AMI applications. ZigBee PRO provides utility companies a global, open standard for implementing secure, easy-to-use home area networks while also enabling consumers to choose interoperable products for precise management of energy consumption. The IC will also incorporate embedded flash memory to provide a single chip solution with unprecedented integration. Working from Itron’s product and system requirements, Accent has completed the design of the IC and will provide all necessary software up to the customer’s application layer. Silicon will be available during 4Q09; Itron plans to start mass deployment of Accent’s IC from 2010.

“While looking to increase performance capabilities for our next generation products, we started by considering a number of standard solutions from different silicon providers,” said Simon Pontin, VP of AMI Development. “Accent has offered a unique system level solution allowing us to integrate 4 ICs into a single SoC, enabling a higher level of integration, while increasing system performance. Accent has undisputed capabilities and track record to offer complete single chip solutions on a complex technology mix including RFCMOS, mixed-signal and embedded processing while enabling a very short time to market. By relying on Accent to produce our IC, Itron can continue to focus on its core competency of delivering advanced meter and utility software solutions to the energy and water industries.”

“We are pleased to be working with a global leader such as Itron on a crucial component of their OpenWay CENTRON product lines” said Federico Arcelli, CEO of Accent. “This strategic engagement further demonstrates Accent’s value proposition in delivering highly optimized solutions that can meet the needs of system equipment manufacturers and OEMs.”

About Accent

Founded in 1993, Accent is a leading fabless ASIC provider offering highly differentiated design and turnkey services for state-of-the-art SoC (System-on-Chip) silicon solutions. Accent’s unique design expertise and IP portfolio in mixed-signal and RF, together with its unrivaled system-level integration capabilities, enable cost effective and differentiated SoC solutions to OEMs, fabless and IDMs. Accent has a proven track record over the years with more than 300 ICs (Integrated Circuit) designs completed to date, with over 98% first-time-right production silicon, and with tens of millions of units delivered from Accent to market. For more information, please visit: www.accent-soc.com.

About Itron

Itron, Inc. is a leading technology provider to the global energy and water industries. Our company is the world's leading provider of intelligent metering, data collection and utility software solutions, with nearly 8,000 utilities worldwide relying on our technology to optimize the delivery and use of energy and water. Our products include electricity, gas, water and heat meters, data collection and communication systems, including automated meter reading (AMR) and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI); meter data management and related software applications; as well as project management, installation and consulting services. To know more, start here: www.itron.com.