In 2012, there were two main manufacturers and suppliers of Raspberry Pi boards. Element14 (part of the Premier Farnell network) and RS Group (RS Components). It was these two of his websites that bore the brunt of the enthusiasm of the public eager to get their hands on the $35 single-board computer at launch.the story of XTechNikkei In an email sent to users on August 10th, RS Group’s license to manufacture and sell the Raspberry Pi has effectively ended in June 2022. This ends his 10-year licensing agreement between RS Group and Raspberry Pi.
This news was also reported by computer watch, he also mentions an interview with Raspberry Pi founder Eben Upton, but I can’t find the transcript of the interview. Following the breadcrumbs, Q&A page RS Group’s Japanese site confirms the end of sale and answers some common questions.
RS Group has discontinued the Raspberry Pi 4, Raspberry Pi 3 and Raspberry Pi Pico.hat tips to Masafumi Ota For bringing this story to our attention.
Q: Will RS stop selling Raspberry Pi related products in the future?
RS Group Q&A page
According to the Q&A page on RS Group’s Japanese site, sales and production of the company’s licensed Raspberry Pi boards will end on July 1, 2022, but this information has just been revealed. Q&A page ask later “Why did you receive a cancellation notice this time?” The machine translated response reads “We have been negotiating repeatedly for supply and have been considering alternatives, but unfortunately we were unable to prepare them, so we have informed you of this cancellation.”
The Q&A will answer the question why you were able to order a Raspberry Pi after July 1st, and the machine-translated response will simply answer. “It took some time to fix the website and the order is ready.”
So what if an RS customer buys a Raspberry Pi? RS has been taking orders for the Raspberry Pi for some time now. Due to ongoing global supply issues, orders are increasingly being pushed back, many through mid-2023.It’s unclear if this is an algorithm-generated date or based on actual data, but the customer’s order remains canceled. there is not
Q: I would like to return the peripheral parts that have already been delivered together with the main unit. A: Sorry, we do not accept returns.
RS Group Q&A page
The PC Watch story claims that there is no impact on supplies to Japan or other regions. The Raspberry Pi founder reached out to Eben Upton for comment and had this to say:
“RS Group is an important partner of Raspberry Pi and has manufactured products under license since its launch in February 2012. is no longer manufactured.Other licensees and our own production are unaffected by this change.We continue to work with our reseller partners to bring Raspberry Pi products to the market, and I don’t expect it to have any ill effects.”
Other licensees, such as Element 14, continue to build Raspberry Pis alongside Raspberry Pis manufactured in Wales via Sony.
Raspberry Pi boards are still in short supply, with higher prices, purchase limits, and anti-scalper requirements to ensure everyone has an even chance of getting a slice of a Raspberry Pi. I’m here.
Tom’s Hardware has reached out to RS Group for comment. We will update this article as soon as we receive it.
