IBM demos Linux platform for PDAs, iA devices

By Nicolas Mokhoff
iApplianceWeb
(01/26/03, 03:09:07 PM EDT)

NEW YORK - IBM Corp. demonstrated a Linux-based reference design for PDA manufacturers at LinuxWorld here as part of its effort to move open standards-based Linux and Java into consumer electronics, personal digital assistants and other handheld devices. The move comes on the heels of a similar PDA reference design that Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and Metrowerks announced at the show.

IBM's design includes IBM's PowerPC 405LP microprocessor, MontaVista Software's Linux Consumer Electronics Edition, and embedded middleware from IBM. It will be available initially from IBM Microelectronics. IBM's Engineering & Technology Services operation will help manufacturers modify the reference design to meet their specific requirements, the company said.

"The reference design we are showing at LinuxWorld reemphasizes IBM's commitment to open standards and Linux and provides companies with a robust and efficient way to extend their enterprise to consumer electronic products," said Lisa Su, director of PowerPC and emerging products at IBM Microelectronics.

Michael McGinnis, program director strategic marketing of IBM Microelectronics' Pervasive Computing group, said the reference design's combination of hardware and software can reduce processor and memory power consumption by as much as 50 percent, which translates to an estimated 20 percent power savings at the system level. "The algorithm we use allows us to power down after loading each video frame - the MontaVista kernel keeps very good watch on actual work that is being done and reacting when power is not required," McGinnis said.

Aimed at supporting both enterprise and consumer applications, IBM's software includes a J2ME certified Java run-time platform for devices, as well as support for multimedia, data connectivity, speech recognition and handwriting recognition. "The next application for the reference design is to incorporate speech recognition for a PDA," McGinnis said.

To meet the needs of enterprise markets, the reference design also includes IBM's Service Management Framework, DB2 Everyplace, Tivoli Device Management and other software to support life cycle management and enterprise connectivity. Third-party software includes Trolltech AS' Qtopia mobile office applications suite and Opera Software's Web browser.

Elements of the software are available now, with an integrated platform scheduled to be made available in the second quarter. "We are targeting an under-$1,000 price point," McGinnis said.

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