Software provides semiconductor solution platform.
Press Release Summary:
Featuring open architecture, platformOViA(TM) (Open, Value Interface for your Applications) is suited for semiconductors in mobile phones, digital AV, and automotive information systems. It allows users to employ system LSIs optimized for specific applications and also supports multi-processors. Platform, which includes hardware as well as basic software and middleware, is designed to enable set manufacturers to develop unique features for above products.
Original Press Release:
NEC Electronics Launches platformOViA(TM) Semiconductor Solution Platform
Kawasaki, Japan, June. 28, 2005 - NEC Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723) today introduced the platformOViA(TM) (Open, Value Interface for your Applications) semiconductor solution platform, which enables set manufacturers to significantly reduce development times for new products. The specifications of this platform will be available in the second half of the fiscal year for use by users and software companies.
platformOViA, which was developed by NEC Electronics primarily for semiconductors in mobile phones, digital AV and automotive information systems, consists of
1) NEC Electronics' system LSIs, optimized for different application types
2) Basic middleware and software such as operating systems that maximize the performance of the system LSIs
3) Middleware needed for customer applications
The main features of platformOViA are:
1) It allows users to employ system LSIs optimized for their application
2) It features an open architecture and supports leading-edge technology such as multi-processors
3) It has been realized in collaboration with software developers and system integrators
By promoting semiconductor products and software products based on platformOViA, NEC Electronics aims to help customers develop products more quickly and effectively. NEC Electronics will also build collaborative relationships with IP developers and system integrators by proactively releasing the specifications of this platform to users, and launch semiconductor products based on these specifications.
In recent years, applications such as mobile phones, digital home appliances and car navigation systems, have begun to utilize a wealth of new functions that were previously unsupported. These new functions include multimedia content support such as digital audio and streaming video distribution, network application functions such as e-commerce and security, and support for terrestrial digital broadcasts. The introduction and integration of such technologies is far from easy, and set manufacturers face vast increases in the scale of software development as well as longer development times.
In response to such requirements, NEC Electronics realigned its organizational structure in April 2004, aligning system divisions according to application. In November 2004, the company established a new System Software Development Operations Unit to enhance its ability to provide comprehensive solutions required by customers in various fields. platformOViA is the next step, allowing set manufacturers use a fundamental platform which includes the hardware and basic software and middleware, enabling them to focus their limited resources on developing features that truly differentiate their products from their competitors.
The features of platformOViA are as follows:
(1) Customers can utilize system LSIs developed in line with characteristics of each application
NEC Electronics offers software for applications that use leading-edge technologies such as multi-processing. For example, in the field of mobile phones, NEC Electronics offers hardware that supports lower power consumption and diversifying applications; in the area of digital home appliances, hardware that supports high-quality larger sized screens and a multitude of formats; and in the field of automotive information terminals, hardware that supports multiple functions, low power consumption, and integrated digital AV functions.
(2) Open architecture and support of leading-edge technologies such as multi-processing
Open architecture and high-performance operating systems such as Linux are supported, and the media interface has been standardized, enabling preparation of software components and expanded user application functions.
(3) Realized in collaboration with software vendors and system integrators
The platform was created in collaboration with various companies, including software vendors, OD development manufacturers, and development tool manufacturers performing IP development such as browsers, JAVA, graphics, multi-media, and communication protocol stacks. Moreover, to promote the diffusion of this platform, NEC Electronics will collaborate with global system integrators. Users will be able to easily create systems that reflect such leading-edge technologies.
NEC Electronics believes that by building systems based on platformOViA, users will be able to achieve vastly more efficient system construction, shortening development time and cutting costs, and therefore become able to concentrate their resources on developing differentiating features for their applications. With this aim, NEC Electronics is committed to promoting this platform in the market and creating an environment that allows users to actively use this platformOViA to great results.
platformOViA Promotion Activities
(1) Release of software interface
NEC Electronics will release the interface for application software, with particular focus on multimedia such as video. As a result, capitalization on the software thus achieved will be possible. <1> Parallel development of applications and middleware, which are increasingly being developed on an individual basis, will be possible. <2> Expandability will increase and it will become possible to easily incorporate user software.
(2) Active provision of software components
Software components for the above-mentioned interface will be readied for 6 areas by FY2006.
Through the selection of these software components, the efficiency of development work by users and within NEC Electronics will be greatly boosted, and product development times will be shortened.
(3) Collaboration with software vendors
By the end of FY2005, NEC Electronics will have collaborations with more than twenty major software vendors including Access Co., Ltd., Aplix Corporation, Wind River Japan, Esmertec, Kyoto Microcomputer Co., Ltd., Softfront Corporation, and MontaVista Software Inc., and will provide software components supporting open standard OSs such as Linux. By the end of FY2006, NEC Electronics will have concluded partnership agreements with approximately 50 companies throughout the world. As a result, it will be possible to directly use the rich distribution software created by powerful software companies as is, allowing efficient software development.
(4) Market launch of semiconductor products
By the end of FY2005, NEC Electronics will launch semiconductors for digital home appliances, and by FY2006, semiconductors for mobile phones.
About NEC Electronics
NEC Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723) specializes in semiconductor products encompassing advanced technology solutions for the high-end computing and broadband networking markets, system solutions for the mobile handsets, PC peripherals, automotive and digital consumer markets, and multi-market solutions for a wide range of customer applications. NEC Electronics Corporation has 26 subsidiaries worldwide including NEC Electronics America, Inc. (www.necelam.com) and NEC Electronics (Europe) GmbH (www.eu.necel.com). Additional information about NEC Electronics worldwide can be found at www.necel.com.
For further information, please visit the NEC Electronics home page at: www.necel.com
