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BSQUARE Launches Hardware Development Platform With Windows CE Support for Texas Instruments' OMAP35x(TM) and OMAP25x(TM) Applications Processors

Posted on: Wednesday, 27 February 2008, 09:00 CST

DALLAS, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- At the 2008 Texas Instruments Developer Conference (TIDC), BSQUARE Corp. today announced that it is launching two new OMAP(TM) DevKit hardware development platforms to support TI's OMAP35x(TM) and OMAP25x(TM) platform. The DevKit OMAP35x and DevKit OMAP2530 each includes a production-ready Windows(R) Embedded CE 6.0 board support package (BSP), and is the only development platform available supporting OMAP(TM) processors running Windows CE. The development platform and BSP will help original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) build Windows Embedded CE-powered connected, multimedia, and embedded devices to reduce development costs and get their products to market faster.

With TI's announcement of introducing these high-end application processors to the broad market, a much broader range of OEMs and original design manufacturers (ODMs) will now be able to incorporate photo-realistic graphics and high-performance multimedia capabilities into their smart connected applications -- while also taking advantage of the low power consumption feature of the OMAP processors.

"TI worked closely with BSQUARE to provide development platforms for the OMAP35x applications processors because of their extensive Windows CE experience and strong reputation as an industry leader," said Gerard Andrews, OMAP marketing manager, TI. "The flexibility provided by the connectivity capabilities of BSQUARE's DevKit allows customers to take full advantage of TI's OMAP35x processors to realize the performance and productivity potential of their embedded devices."

"With BSQUARE'S new OMAP35x-based DevKit, OEMs and ODMs will be able to get their high-performance devices to market not only in significantly less time than before, but also with extremely low development risk," said Raj Khera, vice president of products, BSQUARE. "Our DevKits' multiple expansion headers and expansive connectivity and storage options make them especially helpful for early device prototyping, enabling teams to rapidly design custom hardware components and prove product concepts in early stage development."

BSQUARE will also offer a 3G version of the DevKit, with pre-integrated Sierra Wireless CDMA and GSM modules (via daughter card), for customers who want to build next-generation connected devices. This platform will drastically reduce development and verification time for these devices, enabling OEMs to bring advanced products to market much faster than they could before.

Additionally, BSQUARE has ported the Adobe(R) Flash(R) Lite(TM) software to the OMAP35x DevKit. Adobe Flash Lite software is a powerful runtime engine for mobile and embedded devices that enables these devices to faithfully display Flash-enabled Web content. With Flash Lite 3, OEMs will be able to better differentiate their products, providing customers with improved Web browsing, video content, and compelling interactive experiences.

Modular, Flexible Architecture Speeds Development Time

The DevKit OMAP35x is designed with a modular and extensible architecture to increase design flexibility. The DevKits include a separate CPU/PMIC module featuring a TI TWL4030 system-on-chip (SOC). The PMIC, specifically designed for the OMAP35x platform, supports power management, audio and other functions that previously required additional circuitry, enabling developers to reduce the footprint, cost and power consumption of their devices.

The DevKits also support a wide variety of peripheral hardware, including two SDIO/MMC memory card ports (one 4-bit and one 8-bit slot), a 10.4" TFT LCD display, and expansion headers that can be used for a broad range of other I/O devices.

The physical layout of the DevKits, which includes a large number of easily accessible connection points, gives developers full access to hardware for quick testing and debugging. Additionally, as developers move from the prototype design stage to full-scale development efforts, the development team can use the DevKits to concurrently develop system software and applications, further accelerating time to market.

For OEMs who want to get their products to market in the shortest possible time, BSQUARE also offers complete engineering services -- from design inception through production. In addition, OEMs can purchase production-quality source code for the Windows CE BSP, enabling them to customize the binary code that ships with the DevKits. They can also purchase hardware layout data in OrCAD schematic or Allegro board layout format, enabling them to eliminate any hardware components that aren't needed for their specific designs, reducing both the device's footprint and its cost.

Pricing and Availability

The BSQUARE DevKit OMAP2530 is available now, and the DevKit OMAP35x will be available in Q2 2008. Both products will include production-quality Windows CE 6.0 board support packages, technical support, and documentation. Support for Windows Mobile 7.0 is being considered for the future. To obtain price and delivery information, contact BSQUARE at sales@bsquare.com or call 1-888-820-4500.

About BSQUARE

BSQUARE is a software solution provider to the global embedded device community. Committed to delivering quality, lowering project risk and time to market, our teams collaborate with smart device makers at any stage in their device development. For more information about BSQUARE, visit http://www.bsquare.com/.

About the Texas Instruments Developer Network

BSQUARE is a member of the TI Developer Network, a community of respected, well-established companies offering products and services based on TI analog and digital technology. The Network provides a broad range of end-equipment solutions, embedded software, engineering services and development tools that help customers accelerate innovation to make the world smarter, healthier, safer, greener and more fun.

BSQUARE is a registered trademark of BSQUARE Corporation. OMAP, OMAP35x and OMAP25x are trademarks of Texas Instruments. Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

BSQUARE Corp.

CONTACT: Renee Higgs, Senior Marketing Manager of BSQUARE Corp.,+1-425-519-5226, reneeh@bsquare.com; or Investors, Brett Maas, President ofHayden Communications, Inc., +1-646-536-7331, brett@haydenir.com, for BSQUARECorp.

Web site: http://www.bsquare.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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