In 1993, the introduction of EEPROM memory allowed microcontrollers (beginning with the Microchip PIC16x84)[citation needed] to be electrically erased quickly without an expensive package as required for EPROM, allowing both rapid prototyping, and In System Programming. (EEPROM technology had been available prior to this time, but the earlier EEPROM was more expensive and less durable, making it unsuitable for low-cost mass-produced microcontrollers.) The same year, Atmel introduced the first microcontroller using Flash memory, a special type of EEPROM.[3] Other companies rapidly followed suit, with both memory types.
Cost has plummeted over time, with the cheapest 8-bit microcontrollers being available for under 0.25 USD in quantity (thousands) in 2009,[citation needed] and some 32-bit microcontrollers around 1 USD for similar quantities.