MCG Teams with Lineo and Caldera for Embedded and High-Availability Linux Solutions

TEMPE, Ariz. — (company press release) — Motorola Computer Group (MCG), the world's leading provider of embedded computing technology, today announced a unified Linux strategy that will provide its OEM customers with a broad selection of Linux-based platforms, open source software, service and support,… training and integration services. In support of this initiative, MCG is collaborating with Lineo, Inc., an embedded Linux software company, and Caldera Systems, which offers a full range of “Linux for Business” products, services and Linux educational courses.

In addition, MCG today announced its first Linux-based offerings developed as a result of this strategy-the emS Series for telecommunications, office and industrial networking applications, and the SLX Series network appliance, aimed at Internet, intranet and extranet networking applications.

According to Wayne Sennett, MCG corporate vice president and general manager, the performance and flexibility of Linux and its open source environment will help speed time to market and help reduce development costs for MCG's OEM customers. “We believe that combined with the right hardware and support, Linux is ready for embedded design-ins and deployments in the markets MCG serves, including telecommunications, medical imaging and industrial automation,” Sennett said. “With Lineo and Caldera Systems, we plan to take the lead in expanding the reach of Linux into embedded and high availability markets that require rugged, reliable and scalable products. As a company focused on open architecture, we also support real-time, Windows and UNIX software environments.”

Bryan Sparks, CEO of Lineo, Inc. said, “As a company with embedded, OEM and Linux experience, we were a natural choice to work with MCG to deliver the highest quality Linux networking solutions optimized for embedded computing environments. There is a natural synergy between our existing product lines, which are targeted for the same kinds of embedded applications, such as industrial automation, imaging and telecommunications. This synergy enables us to provide our OEM customers with the best embedded computing products available for the Linux operating system.”

Commenting on the announcement, Ransom Love, CEO of Caldera Systems said, “Caldera Systems is enabling the development and deployment of OpenLinux-based Internet devices and appliances that range from embedded to high-end servers through the leading world-wide Linux channel of OEMs, VARs and system integrators. These solutions providers require very reliable and robust business platforms upon which they can deploy business critical applications. Combining our business quality desktop and server offerings with Lineo's Embedix, the exclusive OpenLinux embedded solution, and MCG's leadership in VME, CompactPCI and high-availability embedded computing, will provide our OEM, VARs and integrators with the optimal combination of high-availability hardware and software needed to satisfy the full range of requirements for these advanced Internet business solutions.”

With a 17 percent share of the server market today, according to analyst firm IDC Inc., the Linux open operating system is increasingly being adopted as the platform of choice for many users-most notably those building Internet and appliance-class networking applications. According IDC, Linux server license distribution reached 750,000 in 1998 — equaling all other UNIX server license distributions combined. Actual Linux deployments far exceeded the IDC number since a single Linux license may be used across multiple platforms.

MCG plans to ship system platforms with Caldera Systems' OpenLinux, and will reference sell Lineo's Embedded Linux Software Development Kit. The agreement will leverage the complementary strengths of the participating companies to provide OEM customers with embedded platform solutions running Linux.

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

Lineo, Inc. develops, markets and sells embedded operating systems and applications that provide consumers with simple, low-cost software for interacting with the Internet via embedded devices. Lineo owns and develops Embedix(tm) (embedded Linux OS), Embrowser (embedded web browser), DR DOS (component-based embedded OS) and other technologies designed to improve connectivity while reducing system requirements and per-unit costs. Caldera, Inc., the parent company of Lineo, Inc., was founded by Bryan Sparks in October 1994 as a start- up venture funded by The Canopy Group – the family trust of Raymond J. Noorda, former Chairman and CEO of Novell, Inc.

About Motorola (www.motorola.com/linux)

Motorola Computer Group (MCG), headquartered in Tempe, Ariz., is the world's leading supplier of embedded computing platforms to OEMs for use in telecommunications, imaging and industrial automation applications worldwide. MCG provides best-in-class solutions by combining its advanced design engineering capability with responsive, world-class manufacturing operations.

MCG is part of Motorola's Integrated Electronics Systems Sector (IESS), a division of Motorola, Inc. IESS is a leading provider of electronic systems for customers who integrate them into their products. The five businesses of IESS deliver high value embedded electronic solutions that enable customers to differentiate their products and lead their markets.

Motorola is a global leader in providing integrated communications solutions and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 1998 were $29.4 billion.

 
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