Micrel Inc. has added a new member to its family of low-power radio modules. The MICRF600 module, designed to operate in the unlicensed 915 MHz band, is the smallest, most cost-effective transceiver module from Micrel. "Most RF modules currently on the market represent a costly, if less complex alternative, to designing with actual chips," said Stein Eskerud, managing director of Micrel Norway. "Micrel's new MICRF600 is a cost-effective alternative for small to medium-sized projects, enabling customers to significantly shorten their design-in cycle and decrease associated engineering costs. This translates into faster time-to-market, which is so essential in this highly-competitive market."

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These latest modules are also code compatible with Micrel's MICRF505 and MICRF506 radio wire transceivers. Code compatibility enables a relatively easy migration path from module to an IC-based solution.

The footprint of the MICRF600 is 11.5 mm x 14 mm. It is available in sample quantities; volume quantities are expected in the fourth quarter of 2005. Pricing starts at $11.33 in quantities of 10K. Versions for the European 433 MHz and 868 MHz bands will follow shortly.