SUNNYVALE, Calif., February 9, 2005 — MontaVista Software, Inc., the leading Linux provider of systems software and development tools for the telecommunications industry, today unveiled a program to further advance the increasing adoption of Linux within the mobile phone industry. The Mobilinux program encourages leading semiconductor, mobile software, and phone integrators to create reference architectures for handset vendors and mobile operators looking to build Linux handsets. Seeking differentiated and cost-effective designs, a growing number of mobile phone vendors are transitioning from proprietary operating system platforms to Linux. MontaVista’s innovative program will provide tools to help ease this migration.
“Our handset customers view Linux as a strategic platform enabling them to differentiate their phones and meet increasingly complex operator specifications,†said Jim Ready, CEO of MontaVista Software. “The Mobilinux program creates an open framework that helps solve the challenge of integrating disparate hardware and software components from a diverse group of vendors. MontaVista’s Mobilinux Open Framework program will deliver choice, flexibility and architectural freedom for handset vendors and mobile operators looking to create competitive phone designs.â€
The Mobilinux program will feature reference architectures that include mobile software components from the world’s leading software vendors. These components will be ported to MontaVista’s Linux operating system and delivered atop leading semiconductor platforms. The reference architectures document the software solution necessary to deliver a Linux-based phone. The program has been widely endorsed by the mobile industry with initial support from the following software vendors and handset integrators: ACCESS, Aplix, ARM, Cellon International Holding Corp., COSMOBIC Technology Co., Ltd., Esmertec, E28, InnoPath Software, Jaluna, Openwave, Opera, PalmSource, Pollex Mobile Software, RealNetworks, SKY MobileMedia, Teleca, Texas Instruments, and TTPCom.
Industry leading mobile communications vendors show support of MontaVista’s Mobilinux program:
“A growing number of embedded Linux developers are basing their projects on ARM technology, and the ARM architecture is projected to become the most popular processor solution for embedded development during the next two years. This is already resulting in an increasing number of ARM Powered® Linux-based handsets. MontaVista’s Mobilinux Open Framework will further enable developers of Linux-based phones.” – Mike Inglis, Executive Vice President, Marketing, ARM.
“We are pleased to continue our relationship with MontaVista Software by participating in the Mobilinux Open Framework program. By defining modular Linux-based mobile software on Intel hardware we will be able to offer complete solutions for our handset customers that are optimized to Intel XScale technology.†– Sam Arditi, Vice President and General Manager, Intel Cellular and Handheld Group.
“In today’s marketplace, seamless connectivity to the information, people and places that matter most is key to delivering a winning mobile experience. For Motorola, Linux is a fundamental component of enabling that convergence. We look forward to leveraging MontaVista’s Mobilinux reference architectures as part of our continuing strategy to deliver market-defining, experiences-rich mobile handsets and solutions.†– Mark VandenBrink, Senior Director and Lead Architect, Motorola Mobile Software Solutions.
“Recently, mobile phones are becoming more and more rich in function and are an indispensable tool to users. NEC expects that the Mobilinux Open Framework program will provide a flexible platform for many people with various skills to contribute to the advanced functionality and growth of the industry.†– Yukitsuna Furuya, Chief Engineer, Mobile Business Planning Division, NEC Corporation.
“NTT DoCoMo has specified Linux as one of two key operating system platforms for our 3rd generation phones. MontaVista’s efforts in bringing the mobile handset vendors onto the Linux platform, through the Mobilinux Open Framework program is to be applauded.†– Kouji Chiba, Vice President, Managing Director of Customer Equipment Development Department, NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
“Time to market and differentiation is critical to our business. I hope that the Mobilinux Open Framework program enables us to quickly meet the needs of the market and keep us focused on delivering competitive phone designs.â€- Ryoichi Sugimura, Director, Base System Development Center, Panasonic Mobile Communications Co.,Ltd.
“The Mobilinux Open Framework will present OEMs with a complete reference architecture to quickly build Linux-based mobile phones and meet a broad range of market needs. TI’s OMAPâ„¢ processors and developers are key parts of the framework and ecosystem. We look forward to extending our relationship with MontaVista Software to make this program a success to enable more choice in the mobile space driving innovations and more competitive solutions for our customers.†– Paul Werp, Marketing Director, Cellular Systems, Texas Instruments.
For more information about the Mobilinux Open Framework program visit: www.mobilinux.com
About MontaVista Software
MontaVista Software provides an Open Source platform, allowing system designers to innovate across a wide range of inter-connected intelligent devices and communications infrastructure. MontaVista enables software developers with a commercial-grade Linux-based operating system. MontaVista Linux is a universal development platform that helps customers differentiate their products and get them to market faster at lower overall development costs. MontaVista Linux is the preferred choice of some of the world’s largest corporations.
Founded in 1999, by real-time operating system pioneer James Ready, and headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley, in Sunnyvale, Calif., MontaVista Software is a privately held company funded by leading venture capital firms and strategic corporate investors. For more information about MontaVista Software, please visit http://www.mvista.com.
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Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. MontaVista is a registered trademark of MontaVista Software Inc. All other names mentioned are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.
MontaVista is an active and highly involved member of the Consumer Electronics Linux Forum (CELF), an organization that includes leading mobile handset manufacturers and is focused on the advancement of Linux as an open source platform for consumer electronics. The Mobilinux Open Framework program will work to facilitate the deployment of CELF specifications.
Press Contacts:
Renee Reyes
MontaVista Software Inc.
Phone: (408) 992-4457
E-mail: rreyes@mvista.com
Dave Forstrom
Connect Public Relations
Phone: (703) 234-5390
E-mail: davef@connectpr.com”
