TAIPEI, Taiwan — (PRNewswire) — Lineo, Inc., a leading developer of embedded Linux system software, today announced key strategic relationships with six of the top embedded system manufacturers in Taiwan. As Lineo partners, these manufacturers have adopted Lineo Embedix Linux as the operating system for those companies' embedded Internet appliances. Representatives from Arima, Compal Electronics, First International Computer (FIC), Micro-Star, Mitac and Wisecom were on hand today at a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan to formalize the partnerships.

“These partnerships are key for several reasons,” said Bryan Sparks, CEO of Lineo, Inc. “First, Taiwan is where embedded devices are predominantly manufactured for world-wide consumption. Second, the selection of Embedix Linux as an embedded OS base will decrease the cost of embedded devices and add powerful functionality. This will encourage the broad deployment of Internet appliances and other embedded devices throughout the Asian market, including countries like mainland China, India and others, where traditional PCs have not experienced a high rate of adoption among small businesses and home consumers.”

Lineo also announced the expansion of their presence in Asia and the establishment of a development and testing center in their existing sales office in Taiwan.

“The Year 2000 is the year of embedded Linux,” said Sparks. “Lineo predicts that the emerging Linux technology will grow more rapidly in the embedded market than the desktop market. We are excited to team with these companies to make sure that happens.”

Partnerships were formed with the following six companies, all headquartered in Taiwan:

• Arima Computer Corporation — Arima Computer Corporation was founded in 1989 as a PC manufacturer. In addition to the reputation as one of the top five notebook companies in the world, Arima is also known as a leader in the consumer electronics and Internet appliance market with products including digital cameras, servers and cellular phones. In 1999, Arima was ranked 36th of Business Week's “Information Technology 100 Companies, and 23rd in Net Sales and 5th in Business performance in the China Credit Information Service's Top 500 Corporations.

• Compal Electronics, Inc. — Compal Electronics, founded in 1984, maintains a world-wide reputation for high-quality notebook PCs and CRT and LCD monitors. Compal is also respected for the Internet appliances they manufacture such as PDAs and a CDMA-standard cellular phone. Compal specializes in ODM and OEM relationships with large corporations such as Dell, HP, Fujitsu and Compaq and NEC. Along with its continual innovation and diversification in notebook computers, Compal's CRT and LCD monitors have become the monitor of choice for international clients such as Compaq and NEC.

• First International Computer, Inc. — FIC is one of the world's largest PC motherboard manufacturers, providing a complete range of motherboard and PC solutions. A leading OEM/ODM supplier of notebooks, desktop PCs, communications, monitors and computer peripherals, FIC operates a global manufacturing and logistics network with over 4500 employees in more than 12 countries worldwide.

• Micro-Star International — MSI mainboards are one of the finest mainboards in the market, created from the ground up to compete head to head with the most sophisticated and expensive designed mainboards available. It markets its product through seven offices located in Taiwan, United States, Germany, Japan, France, PRC and the Netherlands. With this wide position and global lead in the business network, MSI provides quality service and user satisfaction to its entire customer. The company currently operates three factories located in Taiwan and Mainland China. With 12 high-speed SMT production lines, MSI could reach a record-high capacity of 700,000 mainboards and 150,000 add-on peripherals per month.

• MITAC International Corporation — Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Taiwan, MITAC International Corporation [MIC] is ranked as one Taiwan's leading manufacturers of award-winning computer systems that include motherboards, notebooks, LCD monitors, LCD PCs, book-sized PCs, workstations and servers. The company boasts state-of-the-art, cost-effective manufacturing sites in Taiwan and China as well as nimble, on-time build-to-order and configure-to-order centers in the USA, the UK, Belgium, Japan and Australia. MITAC also has some of the PC industry's best e-centric design and engineering facilities as well as e-centric global manufacturing and aftersales service. The company's OEM customers include some of the best brands in the industry. MITAC also maintains a global network of
  distributors selling the MITAC brand as well as private labels.

• Wisecom — Wisecom, founded in Taipei in 1984, is a professional manufacturer of electronic, computer and communication products. Wisecom provides customers with quality products and competitive prices through global manufacturing, logistics and service networks. With extensive experience in working with world class OEM customers, Wisecom has cultivated competitive manufacturing capability, exceeding a production capacity of 1.5 million modems and 200K network product every month. Based in Taiwan, Wisecom has branch offices in North America and Europe to support distributors in 30 different countries.

Lineo, Inc. 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.

 
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