Freescales

Freescale Semiconductor, commonly known simply as Freescale, was a multinational semiconductor company focused on embedded processing and microcontroller technologies. It originated as Motorola's semiconductor business and was spun off in 2004 to form an independent corporation. The company was headquartered in Austin, Texas, with operations around the world and a broad customer base in automotive, industrial, and consumer electronics.

Freescale's product portfolio covered 8-, 16-, and 32-bit microprocessors and microcontrollers, digital signal processors, and related mixed-signal devices. Key product families included the ColdFire 32-bit M68K-based microcontroller line; PowerQUICC and QorIQ families of Power Architecture-based network processors; the i.MX family of ARM-based application processors for consumer and automotive markets; and the Kinetis line of ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers for general embedded applications. The company also supplied radio frequency components and sensor devices for automotive and industrial systems.

Over its history, Freescale played a significant role in automotive electronics and embedded standards, participating in initiatives around mixed-signal integration, security, and software ecosystems. It faced competition from other embedded vendors and from the broader shift toward open-source toolchains and ecosystem partners.

Freescale was acquired by NXP Semiconductors in 2015 for about $11.8 billion. Following the merger, Freescale's business units were integrated into NXP's operations, and the Freescale brand was gradually phased out in favor of NXP branding, with many product lines continuing under the combined company's portfolio. The Freescale name persists mainly in historical reference and legacy documentation.