April 7, 2006 -- Microchip Technology, Inc. has announced a new Production Programming Service for Microchip's PIC microcontrollers. In conjunction with its microchipDIRECT online purchasing site, all of Microchip's customers, regardless of order size, can now have their application code programmed into a PIC microcontroller prior to delivery.

Microchip's new Production Programming Service can program to a customer's requirements and typically ship within 48 hours to anywhere currently serviced by microchipDIRECT. This provides a cost-effective solution for even small customers by removing any additional steps in the production line to program the PIC microcontrollers

"Microchip's new quick-turn Production Programming Service is part of our continuing efforts to make purchasing and programming PIC microcontrollers easy and convenient for our customers," said Doug Chaffee, Director of Engineering for Microchip's Security, Microcontroller and Technology Development Division. "With our no-minimum-order-quantity policy, customers can control inventory and even the small business owner can access services typically reserved for large customers."