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ARM Holdings announced that more than 1.3 billion chips based on its designs were sold during the fourth quarter of 2009. Reporting better-than-expected financial results, the company added that it's signing up licensees for three new designs, code-named “Eagle,” “Heron,” and “Merlin.”
Intel has signed an agreement to acquire Virtutech, and Intel subsidiary Wind River will add the Virtutech product line, including its Simics virtualization and simulation software, to an embedded software product portfolio that already includes Wind River Linux. Intel's acquisition of Virtutech is expected to close this quarter, says Wind River.
Inside Contactless, a manufacturer of near field communications (NFC) chips, is releasing “Open NFC,” an open source version of its NFC protocol stack for mobile platforms including Linux and Android. Meanwhile, Juniper projects that NFC will play a growing role in a mobile-ticketing market that will reach 15 billion tickets by 2014.
Access subsidiary IP Infusion announced a new version of its Linux-based, Next Generation Network (NGN) carrier-grade middleware. ZebOS Network Platform 7.8 adds support for Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching (GMPLS), Data Center Bridging, and MPLS resiliency for wireless backhaul and Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) implementations, says the company.
Moxa announced a rackmount automation computer, with four PCI expansion slots and four gigabit Ethernet ports. The DA-710 has a 2GHz Intel Celeron M processor, a CompactFlash slot, SATA and IDE interfaces, two serial ports, plus four USB 2.0 ports, and runs Debian Linux 5.0, says Moxa.
Via Technologies announced a baseboard designed to integrate a previously released, Linux-ready Pico-ITXe board into a car's instrument panel. The Epia-P710-D offers three Mini PCI Express slots, a SIM slot, SD card reader, plus USB, IDE, and SATA ports, according to the company.
IDC says smartphone sales reached a “new record level” during the fourth quarter of 2009, increasing 39 percent year-over-year to reach 54.5 million units. Meanwhile, Motorola's 4Q sales increased 56.3 percent compared to 4Q 2008, with 80 percent attributed to Android, the research firm added.
The Nokia-backed Symbian Foundation announced it has open sourced the world's leading smartphone operating system, with the release of Symbian 3. Released under an Eclipse Public License (EPL), Symbian 3 adds improved graphics, HDMI support, and better multimedia streaming capabilities, says the Foundation.
Broadcom announced broad adoption of Bluetooth 3.0 across its silicon, software, and combo chip solutions. Separately, Samsung is set to release what appears to be the world's first Bluetooth 3.0-equipped phone, according to the Bluetooth SIG (special interest group).
China-based HiVision is readying an Android-based “PWS700CA” netbook with a 600MHz Rockchip ARM9 processor and a 7-inch, WVGA touchscreen, and according to one preview, it's likely to sell for under $100. HiVision also recently introduced a Linux-based “PWS700B” netbook, as well as an “EB-0600S” e-reader, says the company.
Motorola and Verizon Wireless announced a mid-range Android phone sporting the former's MotoBlur UI. Due for a March launch, the “Devour” offers a 3.1-inch HVGA capacitive touchscreen, a side-slider keyboard, three-megapixel camera, CDMA/EVDO 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, and a full complement of apps, including Google Maps Navigation, says Motorola.
The Linux Foundation announced a call for papers and open registration for its second annual LinuxCon conference, scheduled for August 10-12 in Boston. Priority topics for submitted papers include “Linux in mobile devices,” and the show will feature mini-summits for wireless and power management technologies, the nonprofit Linux advocacy organization says.
U.K.-based Anders Electronics announced a Linux-ready ARM Cortex-A8 COM (computer on module) with up to 256MB of RAM, 512MB of flash storage, 10/100 Ethernet, and integrated WiFi. The CM-T3530 comes with Texas Instruments OMAP3503 or OMAP3530 CPUs clocked at up to 720MHz, has a touchscreen controller, includes a camera interface, according to the company.
Days after a hacker broke open the inner multi-touch capabilities of Google's Nexus One, Google announced it is now offering pinch-to-zoom capability on the Android phone via a software update. In other Google news, the company has posted pictures of the Linux-based Chrome OS running on a tablet prototype.
Eurotech subsidiary Parvus announced an Intel Atom-based version of its rugged, Linux-ready tactical mission computer. The DuraCOR 820-A offers an Atom Z530 1.6GHz processor with gigabit Ethernet and optional MIL-STD-1553 databus connectivity, as well as lower power consumption, and additional memory and storage compared to the previous model, says Parvus.