Chipset maker MediaTek and Microsoft today announced a partnership to deliver Azure Sphere MT3620 chipset to drive Internet of Things innovation with built-in security and connectivity. Microsoft’s Azure Sphere is a solution for creating highly-secured, connected MCU powered devices at an affordable price.
The dedicated MediaTek and Microsoft’s specialized chipset features a Wi-Fi connected controller built around a processor that is designed to run Azure Sphere’s IoT operating system. It also includes built-in support for Microsoft’s latest security protocols. MediaTek says that these chipsets will be sold as part of the Azure Sphere solution. This will enable customers across a broad set of industries to easily connect their MCU powered products and devices that they are protected and secured by Microsoft.
With significant drops in the cost of connectivity, billions of Microcontroller Unit (MCU) powered devices, from household appliances and health monitors to children’s toys and industrial equipment, will be connected. With the same thought, MediaTek and Microsoft worked together to accelerate the market transition from standalone MCUs to secure, cloud-connected MCUs.
Microsoft is building a new ecosystem, which consists of silicon vendors, original device manufacturers, and original equipment manufacturers from a broad range of industries and better understand the opportunities and risks associated with the growing number of IoT devices. MediaTek is currently sampling chips to lead customers and will have the broad availability by Q3 of 2018.
Jerry Yu, MediaTek Corporate Vice President and General Manager of the Intelligent Devices Business Group, said:
MediaTek has a long history of working with Microsoft on specific SoC designs that meet demanding connectivity needs. On top of our close ties with Microsoft and design expertise, Microsoft had a vision we also believed in. Bringing trust and security into IoT solutions from chip to cloud, to make connected devices practical to sell and manage for businesses and consumers.
Galen Hunt, Managing Director, Azure Sphere, Microsoft said:
Today, computing is more powerful and ubiquitous from the cloud to the edge. In the next decade we’ll see the democratization of connectivity to billions of devices. Azure Sphere brings together the best of Microsoft’s expertise in cloud, software, and silicon— resulting in a unique approach to security that starts in the silicon and extends to the cloud. MediaTek has worked in close collaboration with us on the silicon aspect of our solution, and we are pleased to share in this announcement of the MT3620, the first Azure Sphere certified chip. What we are delivering together will be the foundation for a new generation of secure intelligent edge devices and solutions.