Philips Announces Pronto++ Partnerships
Reprinted from a Philips press release:
Royal Philips Electronics (AEX: PHI, NYSE: PHG) today announced several technology partnerships designed to further enhance the capability and flexibility of its digital multimedia reference platform, called Pronto++ Software & Systems. Partnering with these companies will enable Philips and its original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to deliver enhanced multimedia-based applications such as digital audio, video, pictures, and games, further enriching the digital lifestyle of consumers.
The Pronto++ Software & Systems platform consists of reference hardware, a complete stack of enabling software and multimedia services geared toward consumer simplicity and ease-of-use. The platform is powered by Intel XScale technology based PXA250 processors–part of the Intel Personal Internet Client Architecture–to help address many of the performance needs of today’s wireless, handheld and consumer electronic market segments.
“By working with each of these technology partners in their respective fields, Philips is able to offer OEMs a powerful development environment for creating new products faster,” said Ivo Lurvink, CEO, Philips Components’ Emerging Electronic Solution group. “iMerge, Tao, and Intrinsyc bring unique and substantial knowledge, as well as highly innovative functionality to the Pronto++ platform–ultimately allowing OEMs to create next-generation multimedia devices at a lower cost and reduced upfront investment.”
Partnered technologies for the Pronto++ Software & Systems platform announced today:
XiVA Media, from Imerge Ltd
This navigation and control application provides innovative music access. Consumers browse CD collections and view cover art, as well as track listings, artist information and band discography as music plays. XiVA also allows consumers to discover new music associated with their musical preferences and favorite artists, and enables new CD purchase.
Intent, from Tao Group Limited
The intent product will be used to deliver gaming capability through its combination of rich multimedia and Java capabilities. Intent has advanced graphics, audio and video features, and the technology has been ratified as the standard of the Open Contents Platform Association in Japan. Its technology includes various Java specifications, including J2ME and MIDP, as well as PersonalJava.
Intrinsyc
Intrinsyc will assist Philips in creating a Pronto++ Development Kit for OEM customers and partners, and will provide engineering support and application development tools for the entire platform. Intrinsyc has provided and will continue to provide Philips with Intrinsyc’s CerfPDA hardware, Turbo Boot and CerfWorks software to enable rapid time to market for OEM customers.
The Philips Pronto++ Software & Systems platform builds on the heritage of the company’s acclaimed Pronto product line of advanced control technologies for complex and diverse multimedia entertainment systems.
Philips plans to unveil the first product using this unique platform at the CEDIA Expo, which will be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center from September 25-29.