LAS VEGAS, Nev. USA, January 9, 2003 -- Phoenix Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: PTEC), for more than two decades the company behind the global software standard at the core of more than a billion PC systems and connected digital devices, has released Phoenix FirstView ConnectTM 3.2. Concept products for the solution will be demonstrated at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas from January 9-12 at booth #36114.
Phoenix is integrating its FirstView Connect technology into a new class of consumer electronic devices. The company already has established relationships with most of the world’s leading device manufacturers such as Toshiba, Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, Samsung, Wistron, Acer, Fujitsu, Hitachi, HP, IBM, TriGem, and Legend. FirstView Connect represents an expansion of Phoenix leadership in system software technologies, making it even easier for OEMs and ODMs to introduce a powerful core managed environment for open standards-based content delivery, authentication, and management technologies in next-generation digital devices.
“Phoenix is taking advantage of a growing and challenging market driven by the multimedia phenomenon,” said Timothy D. Eades, Senior Vice President of Corporate Marketing and Products Development for Phoenix. “We are vigorously building on our core competencies so we can deliver the digital life to people everywhere. This is one component of our overall strategic drive for content delivery and device authentication throughout the digital device marketplace.”
FirstView Connect enables an entirely new set of consumer electronic devices such as set-top boxes, DVD players, game consoles, PDAs, home Internet appliances, and smart phones to deliver compelling, real-time Internet media, content, and services. The company has been particularly active within organizations such as the DVD Forum to develop and promote enhanced standards and technologies that link digital media with real-time Web connectivity for new interactive experiences. In addition, Phoenix is working closely with technology leaders to provide turnkey solutions for the consumer electronics sector.
“We are working with Phoenix to add compelling value to the digital device hardware platform by enabling new levels of capability and functionality in small-size devices,” said John Heinlein, Director of System Marketing for Transmeta. “With the launch of the new Crusoe™ Special Embedded (SE) processors, our strategy is to offer a complete solution to digital device manufacturers so they can create entirely new classes of connected consumer devices. FirstView Connect has integrated seamlessly with our hardware platform to enable low-cost systems with powerful multimedia and Internet capabilities, which is exactly what we expected of Phoenix’s long experience at the core of digital devices.”
Bill Weinberg, Director of Strategic Marketing, MontaVista Software, says “MontaVista Software is providing a ‘best of breed’ connected device platform with the introduction of our MontaVista Linux Consumer Electronics Edition. Going to market together with partners like Phoenix Technologies offers our customers indispensable, complementary components and solutions for next-generation products in the home, the office, the car, and in handheld and mobile wireless applications.”
The market for digital interactive devices and associated enabling technologies is strong and it’s expected to grow over the next several years. Total consumer electronics spending for 2002 was expected to reach $96 billion in 2002, according to projections from CEA Digital America. Market revenues from set-top boxes alone are predicted to be more than $1 billion per year for the next five years, according to recent IDC figures. The DVD market is particularly robust, with 30 million units sold worldwide in 2001 and growing to an expected 109 million by 2006. An estimated 90% of US households will own a DVD player by 2005, according to IDC.
More about FirstView Connect 3.2
Phoenix’s FirstView Connect 3.2 is a feature-rich, standards-based Internet access and connectivity software stack engineered specifically for connected digital devices, including popular consumer electronics such as DVD players, set-top boxes, and Internet appliances. The solution delivers the very latest in multi-media capability, including the ability to blend on-disc and online enhanced DVD features and much more. It provides a new level of support and resources to customers and partners through a new category of developers within the Phoenix Trusted Partner Network.
Phoenix FirstView Connect 3.2 offers several product features and benefits, including:
* Standards-based content delivery engine for high-quality, universal delivery regardless of source
* Support for HTML 4.0, CSS 2.0, DOM 2.0, JavaScript, PersonalJava, and Macromedia Flash 5
* Open APIs to leverage Internet technologies for new functionality, experiences, and value
* Client-side re-formatter and re-scaler technology for optimized content display on various-sized devices
* Customizable GUI to readily adjust the look and feel
* Integrated OS with fast-boot BIOS for appliance-like functionality and ease of use
* Small memory footprint for affordable cost and flexible form factor
Phoenix Technologies has been a pioneer in delivering value through open-standard technology at the core of digital devices for more than 23 years. The company is an established global leader with a deep understanding of digital device hardware and proliferation of firmware across more than a billion of the world’s PCs and non-PC machines. The company is building upon its history of committed and stable industry leadership and its strong relationships global brands.
About Phoenix
Founded in 1979, Phoenix Technologies (NASDAQ: PTEC) is a global leader in device-enabling and management software products for PCs and other connected digital devices. Phoenix FirstWareTM family of “instant on” software activates, secures, connects, and recovers digital devices and is designed into many millions of industry standard desktop, notebook, server, and information appliance systems sold annually. This enables Phoenix customers – specifiers, developers, and manufacturers of user-driven microprocessor systems – to reduce costs and provide significant value-added features to their customers. Headquartered in San Jose, California, Phoenix Technologies has offices worldwide.
For more information about Phoenix Technologies, visit our website at http://www.phoenix.com/
Phoenix and Phoenix Technologies are registered trademarks of Phoenix Technologies. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.