Annover, Germany / CEBIT – (company press release) — Lineo, Inc., a leading developer of embedded Linux system software, today announced that it reached an agreement to acquire Rt-Control Inc., founders and maintainers of the popular uClinux operating system, a distribution of Linux for microcontrollers. The combination of the two companies provides developers a broader spectrum of embedded Linux solutions for both low-end and high-end embedded devices at a significantly lower cost.

This acquisition adds support for microcontrollers to Lineo Embedix, Lineo's line of embedded Linux system software. Lineo anticipates that this will increase demand for Linux in an area historically believed to be unsupportable by Linux.

“The combination of the technologies from Lineo and Rt-Control opens up the ability for developers to put Linux on devices that would otherwise be cost prohibitive,” said Bryan Sparks, CEO of Lineo, Inc. “As a result, consumers will see Linux in many more devices including cell phones and automobiles.”

Rt-Control is the leading provider of uClinux products and services. The uClinux operating system is targeted at very small, inexpensive devices that are sold in high volumes, utilizing microcontrollers that are smaller than those typically found in embedded Linux devices would run on, such as digital cameras, cell phones, low-end PDAs and security systems. By including the uClinux functionality to the Lineo distribution, the end user will have access to a larger spectrum of Internet-connected devices at a significantly lower cost. Currently, Rt-Control delivers uClinux to the following microprocessor families: Motorola 68000, Motorola ColdFire, ARM7, Axis ETRAX and Intel i960. The uClinux operating system was first targeted and successfully booted on the 3Com PalmPilot, which is based on a Motorola chip.

Michael Durrant, CEO of Rt-Control Inc, said, “The synergy created by this acquisition ensures that Linux can be used in devices where it might previously have been too costly. This will accelerate Linux in becoming the operating system of choice for embedded device developers.”

Rt-Control provides support for design engineering of hardware and software, prototype design and manufacturing services, Linux and uClinux OS porting, and compiler and library development and support. Rt-Control is the second company to be purchased by Lineo. Earlier this month, Lineo and Zentropix announced a merger, providing the Lineo Embedix product family with hard real-time solutions. Rt-Control, based in Toronto, Canada has 8 employees. Lineo plans to leave this operation and its employees intact and augment the site with additional resources as a Lineo development and sales center. Lineo now has offices in Utah, Washington, Virginia, Taiwan, the UK and Canada.

About Lineo, Inc. (www.lineo.com)

Lineo, Inc., the leading developer of embedded Linux system software, develops, markets and sells embedded Linux system software and applications that provide OEMs and consumers with simple, low-cost software for interacting with the Internet via embedded devices. Lineo owns the Embedix product family including Embedix Linux, Embedix SDK and Embedix Browser. Lineo also owns DR DOS, a component-based embedded OS, and other technologies designed to improve connectivity while reducing system requirements and per-unit costs.

About Rt-Control Inc. (www.uClinux.com)

Rt-Control Inc. is the leading provider of uClinux products and services, providing embedded hardware and software solutions for the commercial and consumer electronics industries. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Rt-Control develops, markets and sells the uClinux embedded microcontroller Linux operating system, services and products. Rt-Control provides hardware and software engineering services. Information on the uClinux embedded microcontroller Linux is available at www.uClinux.com.

 
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