QNX Bolsters Leadership in Java Solutions for Embedded and Realtime Developers

OTTAWA, June 21, 2004 - Furthering its position as a recognized leader in embedded and realtime Java support, QNX Software Systems today announced a strengthened relationship with IBM as an authorized global reseller of selected IBM Websphere^® embedded technologies.

In addition, QNX announced updated support for IBM WebSphere Studio Device Developer (WSDD) v5.6, an integrated development environment for building and deploying high-performance Java applications in automotive telematics units, industrial control systems, handheld applications, and other smart devices based on the QNX^® Neutrino^® RTOS.

As an authorized reseller of selected IBM WebSphere embedded technologies, QNX also unveiled support for:

• WebSphere Micro Environment v5.6 - A production-ready Java Powered environment certified to meet several Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME) specifications, including CDC, Personal Profile, and Foundation Profile.
   
• WebSphere Custom Environment v5.6 - A highly configurable platform for telematics systems and other applications that don’t require J2ME compliance.
   
• IBM Service Management Framework - An implementation of the OSGI services platform that allows users to seamlessly deploy new or upgraded functionality on their remote devices.
   

Along with WSDD, these form part of IBM's recently announced Workplace Client Technology, Micro Edition family of products, aimed at extending enterprise applications to server-managed client devices.

"Our commitment to supporting Java technology, like our commitment to POSIX, reflects the deep value we place on industry standards and the benefits they bring to embedded developers — benefits such as increased productivity, greater code reuse, and vendor independence,” said Steve Furr, OS product manager for QNX Software Systems and coauthor of the Real-Time Specification for Java. “By adding IBM WebSphere Studio Device Developer v5.6 to the portfolio of QNX-supported Java solutions, we make it easier than ever for developers to combine the portability of the Java programming language with the proven reliability of the QNX Neutrino RTOS."

To provide customers with an exceptionally rich and well-rounded Java technology portfolio, QNX also works closely with technology partners that specialize in realtime Java solutions, such as Aicas and Aonix. QNX users can, as a result, leverage the portability and platform independence of Java technology while targeting hard realtime systems for the defense, medical, telematics, and industrial automation markets.

A Familiar Development Environment

Like the QNX Momentics^® development suite, WSDD is built on Eclipse technology, providing QNX developers with a familiar development environment and compatibility with a variety of third-party plug-ins. And, like QNX Momentics, it provides tools that help make the most of resource-constrained embedded systems, including a SmartLinker to reduce memory usage, a MicroAnalyzer to pinpoint bottlenecks, and a choice of just-in-time and ahead-of-time compilers to improve application performance.

Advanced OS Services for Java Applications

Using WSDD, users can build and test applications for WebSphere Micro Environment v5.6 and WebSphere Custom Environment v5.6, both of which are optimized for the QNX Neutrino RTOS. Java applications running in these environments can leverage the same advanced services that QNX Neutrino provides for native applications, including priority-based scheduling, distributed processing, symmetric multiprocessing, and the QNX Photon microGUI^®, a full-featured embeddable windowing system.

"By combining IBM WebSphere Studio Device Developer with the QNX Neutrino RTOS, developers can build efficient, network-deployable software that will run across a broad range of devices and processor architectures,” said Bruce Morse, vice president, business development, IBM Pervasive Computing. “Together, IBM and QNX will continue to bring Java applications into industrial control systems, telematics units, and other mission-critical devices. We are glad to build on this relationship by adding QNX as an authorized reseller of IBM WebSphere Studio Device Developer."

Availability

QNX support for WebSphere Studio Device Developer v5.6, WebSphere Micro Environment v5.6, and WebSphere Custom Environment v5.6 is slated for commercial release in June 2004. For details, contact your QNX sales representative.

About QNX Software Systems

Founded in 1980, QNX Software Systems is the industry leader in realtime, microkernel OS technology. The inherent reliability, scalable architecture, and proven performance of the QNX Neutrino RTOS make it the most trusted foundation for future-ready applications in the networking, automotive, medical, military, and industrial automation markets. Companies worldwide like Cisco, DaimlerChrysler, Harris, Siemens, and General Electric depend on QNX technology for their mission- and life-critical applications. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, QNX Software Systems maintains offices in North America, Europe, and Asia, and distributes its products in more than 100 countries worldwide. Visit http://www.qnx.com.

Paul Leroux
QNX Software Systems
+1 613 591-0931
paull@qnx.com

QNX, Momentics, Neutrino, and Photon microGUI are registered trademarks of QNX Software Systems Ltd in certain jurisdictions. All other trademarks and trade names belong to their respective owners.