Freescale Semiconductor designs and manufactures embedded semiconductors for the automotive, consumer, industrial, networking and wireless markets. Based in Austin, Texas, the company has design, research and development, manufacturing or sales operations in more than 30 countries. Freescale, formerly part of Motorola, went public in July 2004. In December 2006, Freescale Semiconductor completed its merger with a group of private equity firms led by the Blackstone Group and became a private company.