In computers, an ASSP (application-specific standard product) is a semiconductor device integrated circuit ( IC ) product that is dedicated to a specific application market and sold to more than one user (and thus, "standard"). The ASSP is marketed to multiple customers just as a general-purpose product is, but to a smaller number of customers since it is for a specific application. Like an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit), the ASSP is for a special application, but it is sold to any number of companies. (An ASIC is designed and built to order for a specific company.)

An ASSP generally offers the same performance characteristics and has the same die size as an ASIC. According to a Dataquest study, 17% of all semiconductor products sold in 1999 were ASSPs; 83% were general-purpose. According to Dataquest's Jim Walker, the trend is toward more application-specific products.

25 Jan 2011