Motorola's Semiconductor Products Sector Uses Hantro's Video Technology in DragonBall Microprocessor Prototyping
OULU, Finland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 19, 2001--Hantro Products
Ltd.:
Hantro's software-based MPEG4 decoder will be installed on Motorola's
DragonBall MX1 Microprocessor
Hantro Products Ltd. (Hantro), a leading provider of mobile
multimedia solutions announced today that it has signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) with Motorola's Semiconductor Products Sector
(Motorola SPS). Under this MoU, Motorola SPS plans to port Hantro's
current Symbian(TM) OS-based MPEG4 decoder application to its next
generation DragonBall MX1 platform.
"Working with Motorola SPS, one of the most significant players in
semiconductor market in wireless business, is an important step for
us," says Mr. Eero Kaikkonen, CEO and President of Hantro. "Especially
due to our position as a leading provider of MPEG-4 encoding
technology for the wireless terminal market, we see this decoder
installation as the first step in wider cooperation with Motorola
SPS."
The alliance will enable manufacturers to design multimedia
products, powered by DragonBall microprocessors, with MPEG4
capabilities to meet consumers' high expectations and active
lifestyles.
"As the number one microprocessor for handheld computers,
Motorola's DragonBall family has been at the forefront of the rapidly
growing portable devices market for six years. We believe that this
alliance gives design engineers the tools to implement wireless video
in products powered by DragonBall MX1," said Buddy Broeker, director
of handheld computing, Motorola. "Hantro has superior expertise in
video coding technologies and wireless telecommunications, and they
have developed a truly advanced MPEG4 codec. Hantro's MPEG4 codec is
optimized for our requirements of low power and high level of
integration, which are crucial for a leading edge mobile terminal
design. Both the MPEG4 codec and our DragonBall family are scalable
wireless video solutions - from low resolution decoding up to high
resolution simultaneous encoding and decoding. They offer an excellent
roadmap for designers to develop a whole range of products using
Hantro's video technology and our DragonBall microprocessor."
Hantro's MPEG-4 codec can be a software-based or a hardware-based
solution, which includes some control software. The codec enables the
transfer of best-of-class video images between mobile devices by
providing high-quality, simultaneous video encoding and decoding at
speeds up to 30 frames per second and up to CIF resolution. Hantro's
codec is an optimal solution for battery operated devices, due to its
sophisticated power control system. The codec is optimized for low
power usage and low processor load.
Media Contact:
Hantro Products Ltd.
Eero Kaikkonen
Tel: +358 8 815 6300
email: eero.kaikkonen@hantro.com
About Hantro
Hantro Products Ltd. specializes in the latest video coding
technologies and wireless communication. The company's main product is
an MPEG4 codec, a two-way wireless image transfer capability for
wireless appliances. Hantro's MPEG-4 codec is a System-on-Chip
solution and it is specifically designed for wireless handsets with
low power consumption and low processor loading.
Hantro was founded in Oulu, Finland in 1992. Since the beginning,
the company has concentrated on the design services for wireless
technology. In 1994, Hantro launched its first IP Library that was
ASIC-based Forward Error Correction library for wireless
communication. For more information on Hantro and its products, please
visit www.hantro.com.
About DragonBall
The DragonBall MX1 microprocessor is designed for smaller,
lighter, lower-cost mobile products, such as advanced information
appliances, smart phones, Web browsers/tablets, digital media audio
players, handheld computers and mobile data/voice applications. To
deliver total solutions to the market, the DragonBall MX1 family has
developed licensing agreements with HANTRO Products Ltd. for its MPEG4
codec; ARM Holding for use of the ARM920T core technology; Sony
Corporation for use of its Memory Stick(TM) interface; and Digianswer
A/S for its Bluetooth(TM) wireless technology. Motorola is a board
member of the Secure Digital Association.
The DragonBall family is compatible with industry-leading systems
such as the Palm OS platform, Microsoft® Windows® CE operating
system, Linux® operating system, and Symbian(TM) operating system.
The DragonBall family is fully supported with the CodeWarrior
development environment from Metrowerks®, a Motorola company. With
more than 35,000 registered users developing applications with
CodeWarrior for Palm OS handheld tools, Metrowerks is the leading
commercial tools provider for the DragonBall platform. The Metrowerks
CodeWarrior IDETM has been precisely tailored to the MX1 while fully
integrating the necessary ARM920T software products. In this way,
users already familiar with ARM tools may get up to speed very
quickly. In addition, the MX1 CodeWarrior software provides an easy
transition from 68K core-based applications to the MX1 based on the
ARM core as part of our policy of providing a continual upgrade path
for DragonBall family tools. www.motorola.com/dragonball
About Motorola
As the world's No. 1 producer of embedded processors, Motorola's
Semiconductor Products Sector creates DigitalDNA(TM) system-on-chip
solutions for a connected world. Our strong focus on communications
and networking enables customers to develop smarter, simpler, safer
and synchronized products for the person, work team, home and
automobile. Motorola's worldwide semiconductor sales were $7.9 billion
(USD) in 2000.
Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT - news) is a global leader in providing
integrated communications and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in
2000 were $37.6 billion.
http://www.motorola.com
MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent &
Trademark Office. (c) Motorola, Inc. 2001.
Contact:
Hantro Products Ltd., Oulu
Eero Kaikkonen, Tel: +358 8 815 6300
email: eero.kaikkonen@hantro.com