Microchip Technology's 11th Annual Strategic Technical Exchange Conference Series Trains Nearly 3,000 Engineers in Seven Countries

University of Microchip Includes Microchip's Annual Strategic Technical Exchange and Review (MASTERs) Conferences; Ongoing Classes Via Regional Training Centers and E-Learning

CHANDLER, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Microchip Technology (NASDAQ: MCHP), a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, garnered record attendance at the recently concluded Microchip's Annual Strategic Technical Exchange Review (MASTERs) conference series, now in its 11th year, with nearly 3,000 embedded designers attending 13 separate conferences that were held in four different languages across seven countries. The MASTERs conferences are part of the larger University of Microchip program that also includes a worldwide network of more than 35 Microchip Regional Training Centers, a rich e-learning library of 100+ on-demand Web seminars, and regular hands-on workshops from Microchip and its distribution partners.

"The MASTERs conferences are focused on providing immersive and comprehensive technical training sessions for engineers that are delivered by Microchip's resident experts," said Ken Pye, vice president of Worldwide Applications Engineering for Microchip. "For those unable to attend any of the 13 MASTERs events we held in 2007, the University of Microchip program offers year-round training opportunities through our local Regional Training Centers and online seminars."

Attendee feedback on the 100 topics being offered across 585 separate sessions was extremely positive. After concluding 30 days of classes, Microchip's expert instructors found that connectivity topics were among the most popular with the 2,872 engineers in attendance. Courses covered the gamut of electronic engineering topics, including embedded applications for USB, Ethernet, Controller Area Networks (CANs), wireless (e.g. ZigBee(TM) networking), QVGA/graphics displays, capacitive touch sensing, programming techniques, signal conditioning, oscillators, motor control, intelligent power-supply design, and incorporating speech and other DSP-based functions.

Additional activities included a host of opportunities for engineers to network with their peers and a wide range of Microchip's experts. The conferences also featured an exhibit area with third-party development tool experts and a simulated wafer fab plant tour. Many of the conferences included evening activities for attendees and their families, such as "Moonbase 2020" interactive demonstrations from the Challenger Space Center, "hover mouse" building and races, magician performances, robot competitions, Scalextric digital slot cars, casino tables, and sports-bar and video games.

2008 Training Opportunities

While the 2008 MASTERs schedule hasn't been set (check www.microchip.com/MASTERs for updates), Microchip regularly adds new classes to each of its 35 Regional Training Centers located throughout the world. For more information on the University of Microchip program, including available classes at Microchip's global RTC network, periodic hands-on workshops and e-learning opportunities, please visit: www.microchip.com/training

Microchip Customer Support

Microchip is committed to supporting its customers by helping design engineers develop products faster and more efficiently. Customers can access four main service areas at www.microchip.com. The Support area provides a fast way to get questions answered; the Sample area offers free evaluation samples of any Microchip device; microchipDIRECT provides 24-hour pricing, ordering, inventory and credit for convenient purchasing of all Microchip devices and development tools; finally, the Training area educates customers through webinars, sign-ups for local seminar and workshop courses, and information about the annual MASTERs events held throughout the world.

About Microchip Technology

Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP) is a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, providing low-risk product development, lower total system cost and faster time to market for thousands of diverse customer applications worldwide. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality. For more information, visit the Microchip website at www.microchip.com.

Note: The Microchip name and logo is a registered trademark of Microchip Technology Inc. in the USA and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are property of their respective companies.

Source: Microchip Technology Inc.

Released December 11, 2007