[MontaVista announces its embedded Linux software has been optimized to develop low-power consumer products on the Freescale i.MX31 processor that runs intensive multimedia apps.]

MontaVista Software, Inc., the leader in embedded Linux commercialization, today announced that MontaVista Mobilinux 5.0 has been optimized to develop low-cost, low-power consumer products on the Freescale i.MX31 processor. Designed for wireless devices running computationally intensive multimedia applications such as portable media players and portable navigation devices, the i.MX31 applications processor and MontaVista Mobilinux offer power-saving capabilities, as well as impressive performance. This benefits users of mobile devices, such as smartphones, digital video recorders, digital cameras and mobile gaming consoles, with the ability to keep several applications running at once.

“We recognize the wide market application of Freescale’s i.MX31 multimedia applications processor, which includes an array of mobile devices, and are excited to provide Mobilinux to developers looking to unlock more capabilities built into the i.MX31,” said Jim Ready, founder and CTO of MontaVista. “Our customers are looking for ways to bring their products to market faster and to incorporate the power management strategies needed for the complex devices they produce. The i.MX31 applications processor from Freescale addresses these low-power needs while running at a fast 532 MHz speed, so developers can meet power management demands while also delivering optimum performance.”

MontaVista Mobilinux is an optimized Linux operating system including specialized features such as dynamic power management for designing wireless handsets and other mobile devices such as MIDs (mobile Internet devices), GPS devices, portable medical products and automotive infotainment. According to a research report published earlier this year by the Mobile Consumer Lab of the International University of Japan, “MontaVista Mobilinux currently dominates the Linux market for wireless devices, having implemented over 90 percent of Linux-based smartphones shipped in 2007.”

“MontaVista Mobilinux is a commercial-grade product with an impressive feature set that speeds time to market, which is an important consideration for Freescale customers,” said Aaron Shagrin, director of the Multimedia Alliances Network, Freescale Semiconductor. “The Freescale i.MX31 multimedia applications processor was designed to simultaneously provide low power consumption and high performance. By supporting the Freescale i.MX31 applications processor, MontaVista can supplement the success of Linux applications built by developers with both power management and performance in mind.”

The availability of MontaVista Mobilinux on the i.MX31 platform is another example of Freescale and MontaVista’s collaborative efforts to drive increased product control and shorter time-to-market for embedded design teams. In addition to the i.MX31 platform, MontaVista also supports the Freescale i.MX27 processor and eight other Freescale processors.

MontaVista Mobilinux 5.0 for the Freescale i.MX31 multimedia applications processor is available now, directly from MontaVista and through its distributors. 2114

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