Sand 9 Partners with GLOBALFOUNDRIES as High-Volume Foundry for MEMS Timing Products

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--October 02, 2012 --Sand 9, Inc., a pioneer in precision MEMS timing products for wireless and wired applications, today announced that it has partnered with GLOBALFOUNDRIES to support high-volume manufacturing for Sand 9 products.

Representing a multi-billion dollar market opportunity, timing devices provide the ‘heartbeat’ for all electronic applications. Historically, this need has been met by quartz crystals. Sand 9’s micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) timing devices provide an alternative with performance and quality improvements over legacy quartz crystal solutions.

Sand 9 offers another major advantage over quartz crystals: integration. Unlike existing quartz crystal products, Sand 9’s more advanced piezoelectric MEMS products can be integrated with semiconductor component devices for applications such as mobile and consumer electronics. Conserving board space is a significant advantage in resource-constrained applications, and it differentiates the company from all other competitors.

“Partnering with GLOBALFOUNDRIES allows Sand 9 to meet heightened market demand for the highest-volume mobile applications, including handsets, tablets and other consumer electronics,” said Vince Graziani, CEO, Sand 9. “Our collaboration will ensure a stable, reliable supply chain for all of our customers in mobile as well as in wireline communications infrastructure, cellular base station, and test and measurement markets.”

“GLOBALFOUNDRIES’ partnership with Sand 9 is built on our complementary strength in the design and manufacturing of MEMS devices. For Sand 9, we have established a very cost-effective and novel MEMS process technology platform integrated with polysilicon through silicon vias (TSVs) for wafer level packaging,” said Raj Kumar, senior vice president for 200mm Business Unit & Fab 7, general manager, GLOBALFOUNDRIES Singapore. “Sand 9 can leverage our strong foundation in MEMS manufacturing to realize fast and reliable ramp to production to meet the market demand for MEMS devices in consumer applications.”

Technical Differentiators

Sand 9’s timing products are the first MEMS devices that use piezoelectric actuation to achieve the stringent phase noise and short-term stability requirements for wireless and wired applications. Their spurious-free resonator design, in conjunction with a low phase-noise oscillator, enables a low-jitter product, which can reduce packet loss and enhance network efficiency in communications applications. The capability for integration—combined with high immunity to noise, shock and lead-free reflow temperatures—address quartz crystal weaknesses that system designers have been forced to work around for decades.

About GLOBALFOUNDRIES

GLOBALFOUNDRIES is the world’s first full-service semiconductor foundry with a truly global footprint. Launched in March 2009, the company has quickly achieved scale as one of the largest foundries in the world, providing a unique combination of advanced technology and manufacturing to more than 150 customers. With operations in Singapore, Germany and the United States, GLOBALFOUNDRIES is the only foundry that offers the flexibility and security of manufacturing centers spanning three continents. The company’s three 300mm fabs and five 200mm fabs provide the full range of process technologies from mainstream to the leading edge. This global manufacturing footprint is supported by major facilities for research, development and design enablement located near hubs of semiconductor activity in the United States, Europe and Asia. GLOBALFOUNDRIES is owned by the Advanced Technology Investment Company (ATIC). For more information, visit http://www.globalfoundries.com.

About Sand 9

Founded in 2007 in Cambridge, MA, Sand 9 is a pioneer in precision MEMS timing products. Leveraging its precision MEMS platform, Sand 9 currently offers MEMS timing products that enhance quality and performance, simplify system design, and promote space and power savings in integrated electronic systems. Sand 9’s technology serves wireless and wired systems in a wide range of market segments: mobile, industrial and communications. For more information on Sand 9, please contact us via phone: +617.453.2451, email: info@sand9.com or web: www.sand9.com.