PCI-SIG Specifications Deliver PCI Express Technology to Mobile Devices

PCI-SIG members address industry demands for mobile device I/O solutions, significantly broadening the PCI Express application space

PCI-SIG DEVELOPERS CONFERENCE, SANTA CLARA, Calif. – June 25, 2013 – PCI-SIG® the organization responsible for the widely adopted PCI Express® (PCIe®) industry-standard input/output (I/O) technology, today announced that it is enabling the mobile industry with the delivery of its Mobile PCIe (M-PCIe™) specification and its new M.2 specification, a next generation form factor for ultra-light and thin platforms. PCI-SIG is delivering technology solutions that meet the mobile industry’s demand for low-power, high-performance and flexible form factor solutions.

PCI-SIG’s M-PCIe specification extends PCIe architecture to the mobile industry, bringing decades of PC innovations to emerging ultra-thin and light mobile devices. The specification enables PCI Express architecture to operate over the MIPI® Alliance M-PHY® physical layer, a proven technology that meets the low-power needs of handheld devices. The M-PCIe specification provides uncompromised scalable performance while delivering a consistent user experience across multiple mobile platforms.

 â€œThe mobile industry has embraced the MIPI Alliance M-PHY physical layer specification as a proven technology to meet the high performance and low power needs of tablets and smartphones,” said Joel Huloux, Chairman of the MIPI Alliance. “Our collaboration with the PCI-SIG on the new M-PCIe specification will provide users the best of all worlds, drastically reduced product development and validation cycles and access to a truly mobile focused physical layer interface technology.”

The M.2 specification delivers flexibility to support high-end performance as well as provide scalable performance to power-constrained devices as required. The specification is designed as a tunable I/O technology for developers to create the perfect balance of power and performance. It provides a natural transition from the Mini Card and Half Mini Card to a smaller form factor in both size and volume, thereby supporting multiple technologies including Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, SSD and WWAN.

“Each new technical innovation is a testament to the importance of PCI-SIG, providing our membership and the computing industry with future-focused technology, ensuring that high performance remains one of our top priorities,” said Al Yanes, PCI-SIG president and chairman. “The addition of M-PCIe technology and the new M.2 form factor to our specification library is another significant step to providing industry-leading I/O technology to all of the markets our members participate in.”

The M.2 specification is currently at revision 0.7a and is anticipated to be released in Q4 2013. The M-PCIe specification is now available on the PCI-SIG website. Implementers of M-PCIe technology must be members of both PCI-SIG and MIPI Alliance in order to leverage member benefits, including access to licensing rights and specification evolutions.

For more information on PCI-SIG’s technology specifications, visit www.pcisig.com.

Join PCI-SIG

PCI-SIG members can participate in the review of all PCI specifications before they are released to the industry. PCI-SIG members develop and maintain PCIe specifications, including the PCIe 4.0 specification, and are actively involved in defining compliance criteria and other technical enabling collateral.

As an additional and extremely valuable benefit of PCI-SIG membership, members are given the right to receive patent licenses from any other member of the organization with necessary claims of patent embodied within the specifications. These licenses may be limited in scope to an implementation of a particular specification, but must be granted to all members on reasonable and non-discriminatory terms. To join the PCI-SIG, visit www.pcisig.com/membership.

About PCI-SIG

PCI-SIG is the consortium that owns and manages PCI specifications as open industry standards. The organization defines industry standard I/O (input/output) specifications consistent with the needs of its members. Currently, PCI-SIG is comprised of nearly 800 industry-leading member companies. To join PCI-SIG, and for a list of the Board of Directors, visit www.pcisig.com.