A microelectronic package includes a microelectronic element having faces
and contacts, a flexible substrate overlying and spaced from a first face
of the microelectronic element, and a plurality of conductive terminals
exposed at a surface of the flexible substrate. The conductive terminals
are electrically interconnected with the microelectronic element and the
flexible substrate includes a gap extending at least partially around at
least one of the conductive terminals. In certain embodiments, the
package includes a support layer, such as a compliant layer, disposed
between the first face of the microelectronic element and the flexible
substrate. In other embodiments, the support layer includes at least one
opening that is at least partially aligned with one of the conductive
terminals.