METROWERKS AND ACCESS FORM STRATEGIC ALLIANCE TO PROVIDE DEVELOPMENT TOOLS
FOR NEXT GENERATION INFORMATION APPLIANCES
TOKYO, Japan – November 12, 1997 – Metrowerks Inc. (HQ: Austin, Texas,
Metrowerks Co., Ltd., Tokyo) and Access Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) announced
this week at the Microcomputer Systems and Tool Fair in Tokyo, Japan that a
strategic alliance has been formed between the two companies to provide
enhanced development tools for the growing information appliance device
market.
Metrowerks will be working with Access to integrate the Access NetFront
suite of Internet access software modules into the CodeWarrior integrated
development environment (IDE) and provide customers with a more
comprehensive solution to address their new development needs.
Both companies agreed that a new generation of powerful, easy -to-use and
economically priced development tools and software resources is required to
help usher in a new generation of information appliances. The strategic
alliance will address both pre-platform and post-platform phases of
development for consumer appliance manufacturers. Pre-platform development
refers to the development of the new appliance devices and its
pre-installed software (i.e. embedded systems). Post-platform development
refers to the software development requirements once the information
appliance device has been released to the market (e.g. 3rd party software
applications, 3rd party add on products, and services).
Traditionally, there has been a significant discontinuity between
pre-platform development tools and post-platform development tools. Price
and complexity have been barriers to synergy. “With a strategic
relationship with Access, we will be able to provide world class
development tools integrated with world class Internet access software
modules to better address both our customer’s pre-platform and
post-platform software development needs,” said John Cheuck, president of
Metrowerks Co., Ltd. in Japan.
Access is currently developing reference solutions for next generation
information appliances such as smart televisions, set top boxes, PDAs,
cellular phones, Japanese small cellular (PHS), and car navigation systems
for various semiconductor manufacturers, including Hitachi Ltd. (Super H
series), Mitsubishi (M32R/D), Yamaha (sound, graphic, VBI decode LSIs), ESS
Technology, and IGS Technologies). “The alliance with Metrowerks will
strengthen the development tools for pre-platform or embedded development
and make software development for an information appliance as easy as
software development for a desktop PC,” said Toru Arakawa, president of
Access Co., Ltd. in Japan.
About NetFront
NetFront by Access is a set of Internet access software for information
appliances which includes real-time operating system (RTOS), TCP/IP, and
mail and web browser. NetFront supports various microprocessors and
operating systems.
About Access Co., Ltd.
Access is engaged in the development of operating software. Since the Fall
of 1996, its NetFront software for information home appliances has been
adopted by over 20 home appliance manufacturers worldwide. Already more
than 500,000 units have shipped with NetFront software. Compact NetFront is
also offered by Access for use in PHS, cellular phones and compact portable
terminals. Access is currently incorporating encryption, compact SSL
(secure socketlayer) and Java (JV-Lite) modules into its NetFront offering.
About Metrowerks
Founded in 1985, Metrowerks develops, markets and supports CodeWarrior
software development solutions for a number of operating systems targeting
the most popular microprocessors. Intended for use for embedded systems or
desktop computers, the cross-platform compilers support C, C++, Java, and
Object Pascal, and allow programmers to build applications from one unique
Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Metrowerks’ CodeWarrior products
are used by more than 100,000 registered users in 75 countries. For more
information, please visit the Metrowerks web site at www.metrowerks.com .
In the United States:
Gordy Davies Joe Leung
Metrowerks Inc. Access Co. Ltd.
(512) 873-4797 (408) 562-6090
gdavies@metrowerks.com. JoeLeung@aol.com
In Japan:
Ms. Hitomi Nakamura Mr. Seiji Koike
Metrowerks Co., Ltd. Access Co., Ltd.
+81-3-3780-6091 +81-3-3233-0200
hitomi@metrowerks.com koike@access.co.jp
