Source: Microsoft
Microsoft and MIPS Technologies Form Alliance With Leading Silicon Vendors to Drive MIPS-Based Designs in Digital Consumer Devices
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>ADMtek, AMD, ATI Technologies, Broadcom, Marvell, NEC Electronics, PMC-Sierra, Texas Instruments and Toshiba First to Join Alliance and Optimize MIPS-Based Processors For Windows CE .NET
REDMOND, Wash. -- Feb. 5, 2003 -- Microsoft Corp. and MIPS Technologies Inc. today announced the formation of an alliance of leading silicon vendors to help make the industry-standard MIPS architecture and the Microsoft® Windows® CE .NET operating system the technologies of choice for OEMs developing next-generation digital consumer devices. MIPS Alliance for Windows CE members include ADMtek Inc., AMD Inc., ATI Technologies Inc., Broadcom Corp., Marvell Technology Group Ltd., NEC Electronics Corp., PMC-Sierra Inc., Texas Instruments Inc. and Toshiba Corp. Microsoft is hosting more than 50 executives from MIPS licensees today in Redmond, Wash., for the first MIPS and Microsoft Executive Summit, to share the latest Windows CE and MIPS technology road maps and business strategies.
"The MIPS Alliance for Windows CE is a win-win partnership," said Tony Massimini, chief of technology at Semico Research Corp. "The pairing of two best-in-class companies will bring an optimized MIPS/Windows CE solution closer to the digital home entertainment environment. System OEMs and, ultimately, the consumer will be the greatest beneficiaries."
"Microsoft is pleased to be a leading participant in the alliance with MIPS and the member companies," said Keith White, senior director of the Embedded and Appliance Platforms Group at Microsoft. "The alliance will result in more MIPS processors being supported on Windows CE .NET, with its rich capabilities for smart mobile and small-footprint devices, offering OEM customers a greater range of choices designed for specific devices such as automotive infotainment, residential gateways, set-top boxes and voice-over IP phones."
"Industries such as the automotive, digital television and residential gateway segments, as well as voice-over IP phones, require innovative system-on-a-chip (SOC) solutions that deliver an optimized user experience," said Kevin Meyer, vice president of marketing at MIPS Technologies and one of the executives who will be attending the summit. "MIPS Technologies continues to work with its leading licensees and partners to ensure that OEM customers have a full choice of 32- and 64-bit MIPS-based solutions supported by the Microsoft Windows CE .NET development platform."
Microsoft and MIPS Technologies
The MIPS Alliance for Windows CE builds upon the 10-year relationship of Microsoft and MIPS in response to the increasing demand for Windows CE support on 32- and 64-bit MIPS-based microprocessors. As a result of the alliance, companies such as Toshiba have dedicated engineering and marketing resources to optimize the Windows CE .NET platform for the MIPS32 ™ and MIPS64 ™ architectures.
The MIPS and Microsoft Executive Summit is an invitation-only two-day workshop that will provide MIPS partners with information about the latest MIPS and Windows CE technologies and business opportunities available through integration of the MIPS architecture and Windows CE .NET. Topics to be covered at the summit include marketing strategies, technology road maps, silicon-vendor case studies of successful embedded solutions and technical overviews. Keynote presentations will be given by Todd Warren, general manager of the Embedded and Appliance Platforms Group at Microsoft; Kevin Meyer, vice president of marketing for MIPS Technologies; and Keith Diefendorff, vice president of product strategy for MIPS Technologies. Demonstrations will show the capacity of Windows CE to create custom Windows Powered devices that include rich networking, multimedia and Web browsing functionality. Products to be demonstrated include Windows CE .NET and products that take advantage of Windows CE, including eHome, MSN®, Windows for Automotive and Windows Media®. More information on the summit can be obtained at
wcesvr@microsoft.com.
About the Microsoft Embedded and Appliance Platforms Group
Microsoft Windows Embedded operating systems and tools provide comprehensive software platforms for building the next generation of intelligent, 32-bit connected Windows Powered devices that demand rich applications and Internet services for a wide range of flexible solutions. In addition, Microsoft offers a wide range of programs and services designed to meet the specific needs of Windows Embedded customers, industry partners and developers. The Windows Embedded operating systems currently include Windows CE and Windows XP Embedded. The Server Appliance Kit for Windows 2000 helps OEMs build Windows Powered server appliances, including Network Attached Storage (NAS) and Web servers. Windows CE was honored at the 2003 International Consumer Electronics Show for innovations in the category of Software/Embedded Technologies. The Embedded and Appliance Platforms Group also delivers the Windows CE for Smart Display software technology that powers a wide range of Smart Displays to extend the Windows XP experience to any room in the home. Currently in development is "Media2Go," which is the code name for a new device platform for powering the next generation of portable media player devices that enable consumers to enjoy their videos, music and pictures on the go. </span>
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