Source: GeoworksGEOWORKS PORTS OPERATING SYSTEM TO ARM CHIPS, PROVIDING EASY JAVA TECHNOLOGY-BASED SOLUTION FOR SMART PHONE MANUFACTURERS
Relationship with Key Chip Designer Gives Wireless Handset Manufacturers an Optimized Java(tm) Technology-Based Solution with Minimized Time to Market
ALAMEDA, Calif. (May 26, 1998) - Geoworks Corporation (NASDAQ: GWRX), a leading provider of smart phone solutions, has ported its GEOS(r)-SC(tm) operating system that includes Sun Microsystems' PersonalJava(tm) platform to chips designed by ARM (LSE: ARM and NASDAQ: ARMHY). This highly integrated solution now gives wireless handset manufacturers the ability to rapidly enter the emerging smart phone market, and provides new market opportunities for the more than 750,000 developers creating Java(tm) applications worldwide.
Geoworks implemented the PersonalJava platform on its innovative operating system to provide an easy Java software solution for manufacturers of mobile communications devices. By porting this OS to ARM chips, the preferred microprocessor in the European handset market, Geoworks has provided original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) using any one of ARM's 26 announced chip licensees with the ability to quickly bring to market a Java technology solution for a wide range of smart phones.
"Geoworks is a leader in the smart phone industry, and we are pleased that it has ported its operating system to the ARM Architecture," said Rod Crawford, ARM's director of 3rd Party Software Products. "This combination creates a compelling solution for Java technology-enabled ARM Powered smart phones."
Geoworks has optimized its implementation of PersonalJava for resource-constrained devices, including smart phones. Geoworks has developed smart phone application programming interfaces (APIs) in the Java language for rich telephony functionality. Java applications can now be adapted to run on devices utilizing the GEOS-SC operating system.
"By implementing the PersonalJava platform on its operating system, Geoworks is helping to create new opportunities for Java applications in the growing smart phone market," said Jonathan Schwartz, director of software products at Sun Microsystems' Java Software division. "Java technology developers can leverage the 'Write Once, Run Anywhere(TM)' capabilities of the Java platform by enabling their applications to run on mobile communications devices."
"ARM chips are a leading choice for smart phone manufacturers, so being able to run on ARM is very important to our continued success in this market, " said David Thatcher, Geoworks' president. "We value Sun's efforts to establish the Java platform as a standard so that developers can write applications that can run across many platforms, including GEOS-SC. We are pleased that we can now offer a Java technology solution for manufacturers who choose the ARM chip design."
About Geoworks
Based in Alameda, Calif., Geoworks Corporation is a leading software provider for manufacturers of mobile communicating devices, including smart phones, as well as the cellular industry. The company has licensed its GEOS and GEOS-SC operating systems to leading manufacturers, including Mitsubishi, Nokia, Toshiba Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., Brother International Corp. and Canon Business Machines. In addition, the Company is working with content and services providers and international cellular operators. For additional information on Geoworks, its operating system and wireless content services, contact Geoworks on the World Wide Web at http://www.geoworks.com.In keeping with U.S. law, Geoworks notes that this press release includes forward-looking statements, including the Company's intention to implement Java technology for wireless devices, the ability for Java technology developers to create applications for wireless devices, Java being critical to the smart phone market, the combination of Geoworks' operating system and the Java programming language producing a solution for mobile communications devices. Actual results may vary significantly due to various risks and uncertainties. Those include, but are not limited to, the following: i) the smart communicator market and third-party application market for smart phones may not emerge to the degree or in the timing anticipated; ii) the Company must consummate definitive agreements with key partners; and iii) new technologies are inherently subject to development, timing and consumer acceptance risks. Additional information is available in the Risk Factors and Business discussions in the Company's Forms 10-K, 10-Q and other filings available from the Company or from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Sun, Sun Microsystems, Java, PersonalJava and "Write Once, Run Anywhere" are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.