Augsburg, Germany — (press release excerpt) — The Embedded Linux Consortium today announced formation of ELC-Europe, a spirited initiative to accelerate the ELC's European presence via promotion, marketing, and standardization-related activities across the region. At an organizing meeting here, representatives from dozens of technology firms ranging from startups to Global 100 companies began a process… that will quickly lead to increased European and global visibility for the Linux operating system.

The overflow meeting attracted over 30 companies (see list at end). Dr. Inder Singh, ELC Chairman and CEO of LynuxWorks, said, “The global mission of the ELC to promote embedded Linux will be enhanced by strengthening it at the regional level. It is appropriate that Europe, where Linux originated, is our first step in this direction. ELC-E is a vibrant and exciting example and we welcome these firms and individuals and their fresh voices to our mission.”

Michael Tiemann, Chief Technical Officer of Red Hat Software, Inc., and an ELC board member, said, “the ELC-E chapter will provide enhanced opportunities for Linux developers, many of whom are based in Europe, to interact directly with main players in embedded Linux. A concentration of European interests eases the integration of regional members in ELC's embedded Linux platform standardization initiative, which Red Hat strongly supports.”

Two ELC members in particular, Tuxia, Inc., Augsburg, Germany and Metrowerks, Basel, Switzerland, helped pull the effort together. “The spirit of volunteerism is central to our success, and we thank Tuxia and Metrowerks,” said Dr. Singh.

To accelerate the effort, the ELC Board created a special Ambassadorship. The Ambassador will be an ELC officer who will “act as the European marketing representative at Board meetings,” said Dr. Singh. Once appointed, the Ambassador will chair a member committee that captures and prioritizes marketing interests. In this two-way post, the Ambassador will request organizational resources that fulfill the mission, and carry back top-level information to members for global coordination. Anthony O'Sullivan, Vice President of Marketing at TUXIA, was appointed head of a search committee with a mission to appoint an Ambassador within 30 days.

Another committee to support the ELC's platform specification is in the formation stage.

To facilitate a running start, the ELC-E begins operations nearly immediately from a Benelux location that provides a Central European contact point. The location and contact information will be posted at the
ELC's website.

Murry Shohat, ELC Executive Director, said, “ELC-E's organizational effort includes a diverse membership spanning a supply chain ranging from microprocessors to consumer products. ELC-E validates our prediction that Linux is quickly becoming the global operating system of choice across embedded markets ranging from pervasive handheld devices and Internet appliances to automotive controls, communications infrastructure and high availability systems.” Shohat added, “The energy flowing into ELC-E is likely to be repeated in other areas including the Pacific Rim and Indian subcontinent.”

Broad corporate participation in the ELC-Europe organizing meeting underscores the exploding interest in Linux. Because Linux is open source, it lowers barriers of cost, time and risk, making it an ideal software platform in a vast, diverse global marketplace. More than 90% of the world's annual productions of microprocessors are destined for use in embedded systems. Each microprocessor requires an operating system.

Examples of entirely new embedded applications based on Linux range from kitchens that monitor and automatically reorder household supplies and food to automotive control systems that interact with vehicle occupants while managing vehicle operations. Wireless Internet access is often an enabling feature of these applications. Scaleable, portable and standard, Linux is quickly becoming the favorite operating system choice in a crowded field of proprietary solutions.

During yesterday's meeting, STMicroelectronics became a Corporate Executive Member and several more companies signified interest in membership. The following companies attended the meeting: 3Glab, Active Expo, Arcom Control Systems Ltd, convergence, emlix gmbh, esmertec Inc, Fachhochschule Augsburg, Feit Sensor to Image GmbH, Fujitsu Siemens, Future Sound Technologies, Hewlett-Packard GmbH, IBM, Implementa GmbH, Intel, Lisasystem, Lynuxworks, Metrowerks, M-Systems, National Semiconductor, Picar, Red Hat Inc, S3 Group, Samsung, STMicroelectronics, SYSGO, Technology Consulting, Trolltech, TUXIA, Volvo Technological Development, Wipro Technologies Germany.

 
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