IC Sockets Ease Transition to Lead-Free Electronics

"Designing an IC socket onto a board can actually reduce costs throughout the transition to lead-free manufacturing and eliminate the need for PC board redesign as semiconductor packages change or become obsolete. Until an end-product needs to be fully RoHS-compliant, design engineers will be faced with integrating both lead-bearing and lead-free components onto PC boards while dealing with both material and process incompatibility issues." source: neasia.nikkeibp.com