Dear Valued GR228X and TS8X Customer,

This letter is to notify you that as of July 2005, all non-UltraPin test systems will transition from the Full Support to the Limited Support category. This means that Teradyne no longer provides software updates for the discontinued 2280, 2281, 2283, 2284, 2286, 2287, 2287L, 2287LX, TS83, TS84, TS86, TS87, TS87L, and TS87LX tester models that use older Combo and HDC pin board technologies.

Limited Support indicates that no further software or hardware enhancements are planned for these products. Software support is limited to critical bug fixes only. Hardware, application, and maintenance services to support these testers can still be obtained from Teradyne's global support and service organizations and Remote Support Agreements (RSA) can still be purchased to cover these products.

The new TestStation software release, version 5.9.0, along with its new test capabilities (Framescan FX, enhanced Retest-on-Fail, and support for third Party BSCAN solutions) are only supported on UltraPin-based TS12X, TSLH, TSLX and TSR test systems. The last software release that supports older ICA based 228X and TS8X test systems is version 5.8.0. The last software release that supports non-ICA based 228X test systems is version 5.7.2. Teradyne offers a software discount to those customers who wish to purchase a last time software upgrade for their older non-UltraPin testers. Contact your Teradyne sales representative for a free quote.

To take advantage of new features and future software enhancements, however, Teradyne recommends that older non-UltraPin test systems be replaced with the latest TestStation UltraPin models. Teradyne offers attractive trade-in programs to help customers upgrade to the latest technology.

We want to thank you for being among the many manufacturers that selected the 228X and TS8X in-circuit tester products. We trust that it has been one of your most valuable test and measurement tools and we hope that you continue to choose Teradyne products for your future test and inspection manufacturing requirements.

Sincerely yours,

In-Circuit Test Product Manager