Press Releases

Leading Linux Platform Chosen for Performance and Networking Capabilities

International Consumer Electronics Show, Las Vegas, Jan. 8, 2003 — MontaVista Software, Inc., the company powering the embedded revolution, today announced the selection of MontaVista™ Linux® as the systems software platform for a new broadband terminal developed and manufactured by Panasonic Communications, Inc. and targeted for business organizations including telecommunication carriers, power or gas supply companies, and condominium and public facility management companies.

The new broadband web terminal is a next-generation, integrated, multi-functional IP phone and Internet terminal that includes a wide liquid-crystal-display, Internet connectivity with touch screen operation, and handwriting input for email messages -- all of which provides easy-to-use operation for end users. The broadband terminal also incorporates touch screen operation of phone functions such as message answering, number display, and ring melody selection.

This product will be incorporated into next-generation Internet- connected home and business devices developed by consumer electronics OEMs. The Panasonic platform, running MontaVista Linux, will enable a variety of applications including remote medical care, home banking and on-line shopping. The broadband terminal can also be integrated into order processing terminals for franchised or large retail businesses. This broadband web terminal will be among the cutting-edge consumer products built on MontaVista Linux that MontaVista Software is demonstrating, from the world’s leading Consumer Electronics companies in Booth # 35179, in the Embedded Technologies Pavilion at the International Consumer Electronics Show, Jan 9-12, 2003 in the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“This Panasonic broadband terminal represents the next-generation of Internet- connected home and business devices. We are delighted that MontaVista Linux was chosen as the systems software platform to enable the development of such an advanced consumer device,” said Hitoshi Arima, vice president, sales (Japan), MontaVista Software. “MontaVista Linux offered Panasonic both quicker time-to-market and lower total development costs. MontaVista Software has been and will continue to address the growing requirements of the consumer electronics market.”

MontaVista Linux supports a range of enhanced features in advanced consumer electronics products such as the Panasonic broadband terminal, providing high performance, real-time capability and service reliability. The feature-rich MontaVista Linux is already being deployed in a wide variety of consumer electronics applications, such as smart mobile phones, wireless PDAs, set-top boxes and automotive telematics.

About MontaVista Software Inc.
MontaVista Software is a leading global supplier of systems software for intelligent connected devices and associated infrastructure. MontaVista powers the embedded revolution by providing GNU/Linux-based open-source software solutions. Founded in 1999 by real-time operating system (RTOS) pioneer James Ready, MontaVista offers a family of products under the MontaVista Linux umbrella that address broad-based software developer needs encompassing applications ranging from communications infrastructure to consumer electronics. Multiple Editions of MontaVista Linux are available including — Professional, Consumer Electronics and Carrier Grade — along with complementary technology products providing powerful Java and graphics development capabilities.

Headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley, in Sunnyvale, Calif., MontaVista Software is a privately held company funded by leading investors such as Alloy Ventures, US Venture Partners, RRE Ventures, WR Hambrecht + Co., IBM, Intel Capital, Sony, Panasonic (Matsushita), Toshiba America and Yamaha Corporation. For more information about MontaVista Software, please visit http://www.mvista.com.

Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. MontaVista is a trademark of MontaVista Software Inc. All other names mentioned are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective companies.

Contacts:
Joe Samagond
Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications
MontaVista Software Inc.
Phone: (408) 328-9234
E-mail: jsamagond@mvista.com

Patricia Colby
PR Strategy and Business Development
Pacifico Inc.
Phone: (408) 293 8600 x340
E-mail: pcolby@pacifico.com