The QBM Alliance, founded by Kentron Technologies, welcomes Acuid Corporation as a new member of the Alliance.

Acuid Corporation provides test equipment to the semiconductor and memory module industry and will be instrumental in the testing of the QBM modules being introduced later this year.

Wilmington, MA – (June 13, 2002) - The QBM Alliance, an international alliance founded by Kentron Technologies (www.kentrontech.com ), welcomes Acuid Corporation (www.acuid.com/ ) to the Alliance. The QBM Alliance is aimed at positioning Quad Band Memory (QBM) technology as an industry standard. QBM is a Double Data Rate (DDR) based technology that utilizes existing 
DDR I SDRAM memory devices to produce the expected bandwidth of DDR II devices and beyond, today.  Acuid Corporation provides test equipment to the semiconductor and memory module industry and will be instrumental in the testing of the QBM modules that will be introduced to the industry later this year.

“As we near the actual introduction of memory controllers that have been ‘QBM enabled’, the industry will rely on companies such as Acuid Corporation to provide the high speed testing capabilities for the QBM module solutions”, said Bob Goodman, CEO of Kentron Technologies.

"Acuid is well positioned to address the test challenges of QBM technology, and look forward to working closely with all members of the Alliance to provide cost effective test solutions", said Kevin McLaren, VP WW Marketing & Sales, Acuid Corporation. "The QBM Alliance is instrumental in preparing the industry for this technology and we are excited to be a part of the launch team," concluded McLaren.

With the creation of the QBM Alliance, leading system related companies are working with Kentron to provide the industry with solutions to the limitations and time delays of DDR II. The most apparent issues affecting the memory industry are as follows:

• The continuing technical challenges that the industry is facing with the implementation of cost effective higher frequency DDR II devices.

• The density limitations inherent in the higher frequency DDR II modules due to FBGA device stacking challenges and the limitations in the number of connectors (1 or 2).

• The reported delay of volume shipments of DDR II solutions until 2004/2005.

• The low yield, related high costs, availability issues and the industry’s overall confusion in direction with DDR 400 (DDR I).

All of these issues are causing delays in the memory industry’s ability to deliver higher speed solutions. Meanwhile, microprocessor producers continue their movement to faster front side buses (400, 533 & 667).  QBM provides the memory bandwidth needed to maximize the performance of these faster, front side buses.

Other members of the QBM Alliance include Acer Laboratories, Avant Technology, CST, Denali Software, Integrated Circuit Systems, Kentron Technologies, Netlist, Peripheral Enhancements, PNY Technologies, SIS, SiSoft, ST Microelectronics, Terarecon and Via Technologies. 

ABOUT KENTRON TECHNOLOGIES

Founded in 1996, Kentron Technologies specializes in the design, engineering and manufacturing of advanced memory products and platforms to meet the speed and density requirements of high performance systems.  With patented memory solutions, Kentron is pioneering new technologies that will lay the foundation for future platforms and networks and solve the memory density and speed issues faced by the Internet server and router marketplace. These memory platforms achieve the highest “per socket” densities in the world without the premium costs that might be expected of such leading edge technology. Kentron manufactures its products in three locations in the United States and maintains a world-class engineering and R&D facility in Massachusetts. Kentron Technologies corporate headquarters is based at 155 West Street in Wilmington. MA. For additional information about Kentron Technologies, Inc. please contact Andrea E. Pruna, Kentron Technologies, Inc., 155 West Street, Wilmington, MA, at (978) 988-9100, extension 4161, or at andrea@kentrontech.com . 

More information is available at the Company’s website http://www.kentrontech.com/  

ABOUT ACUID

Acuid is a global company with unique timing technology, delivering high-speed data transfer solutions to semiconductor markets. The uniqueness of its timing technology, delivers performance rates of up to 100 times faster than contemporary buses using low cost silicon over the more expensive gallium arsenide solutions. Benefits of this technology are encompassed in Acuid's ATE products delivering affordable solutions with high performance and accuracy. Acuid was founded in 1996 with company head quarters in Edinburgh, Scotland. For additional information about Acuid Corporation please contact Kevin McLaren, VP WW Marketing & Sales, Acuid Corporation, at  011-44-1258-881175 or at kevin@acuid.com . 

More information is available at the Company’s website http://www.acuid.com/

Kentron Technologies, QBM and Quad Band Memory are registered trademarks of Kentron Technologies. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.