Data concentrator solution to be showcased at Metering Billing/CRM Europe 2012 in Amsterdam on 9-11 October in booth #G30

EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. and AMSTERDAM, Oct. 9, 2012 — (PRNewswire) — �The Aricent Group®, a global technology innovation and services company focused exclusively on solutions for the connected world, today announced it will collaborate with Texas Instruments (NASDAQ: TXN) Incorporated (TI) on a new data concentrator solution for the smart grid market.

The joint data concentrator solution is based on TI's Sitara™ AM335x ARM® Cortex™-A8 or Sitara AM1808 ARM9 processors and power line communication solution (AFE031 combined with C2000™ TMS320F28PLC83 microcontroller) that provide connectivity supporting both PRIME and G3 standards. Aricent has developed a feature-rich protocol stack for device language message specification (DLMS) / companion specification for energy metering (COSEM), which is fully ported and optimized on the TI data concentrator platform.

"The combination of TI's industry-leading data concentrator hardware and Aricent's proven expertise in software frameworks creates powerful, reliable and cost-efficient solutions for the smart grid market," said Jinu Koshy, vice president of the applications practice, Aricent Group. "TI has a rich portfolio of products for the smart grid segment and we believe that this collaboration will help us deliver world-class data concentrator solutions."

"Smart energy solution providers need innovative and integrated products that analyze, collect and communicate energy use data seamlessly across the Advanced Metering Infrastructure," said Markus Staeblein, general manager of Smart Grid Solutions, TI. "The data concentrator solution will be built with TI C2000 microcontrollers and TI ARM9/Cortex-A8 processors with future-proof software components from Aricent, a key benefit that will help smart energy OEMs deliver differentiated data concentrator devices for the smart grid."

Aricent and TI will be demonstrating the data concentrator solution at Metering Billing/CRM Europe 2012 in Amsterdam on 9-11 October in booth #G30.

About the Aricent Group
The Aricent Group is a global innovation and technology services company that helps clients imagine, commercialize, and evolve products and services for the connected world. Bringing together the communications technology expertise of Aricent with the creative vision and user experience prowess of frog, the Aricent Group provides a unique portfolio of innovation capabilities that seamlessly combines consumer insights, strategy, design, software engineering, and systems integration. The client base includes communications service providers, equipment manufacturers, independent software vendors, device makers, and many other Fortune 500 brands. The company's investors are Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Sequoia Capital, The Family Office, Delta Partners, and The Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board.

For more information, please visit http://www.aricent.com
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TI's Smart Grid Solutions
With millions of energy meter ICs shipped over the past decade, Texas Instruments is the global systems provider for innovative, secure, economical and future-proof solutions for the worldwide smart grid. TI offers the industry's broadest smart grid portfolio of metrology expertise, application processors, communication systems, wireless connectivity and analog components in readily available silicon, with advanced software, tools and support for compliant solutions in grid infrastructure, utility metering and home or building automation. Learn more at www.ti.com/smartgrid.

SOURCE Aricent Group

Contact:

Aricent Group Texas Instruments Incorporated Johnny Truong, Sonus PR for Aricent Group Phone: +1-415-830-4530 Email Contact Mark Welsh, GolinHarris for Texas Instruments Phone: +1-972-341-2513 Email Contact Web: http://www.aricent.com