Emblaze And Motorola Sign Agreement For MPEG4 Technology
Emblaze Multimedia Player Ported To Best-Selling DragonBall(TM) Microprocessor Platform
NEW YORK, NY--(INTERNET WIRE)--Dec 18, 2001-- Emblaze Systems Ltd. (LSE: BLZ) and Motorola, Inc's (NYSE: MOT - news) Semiconductor Products Sector (SPS) today announced they have agreed to port the Emblaze MPEG4 multimedia player to Motorola's DragonBall(TM) MX1 microprocessor.Building on its position as the best-selling microprocessor for handheld computers, the DragonBall MX1 provides best-in-class handheld performance and battery life while enhancing portable multimedia applications. Emblaze technology is designed to enable portable handheld devices to receive media-heavy applications, such as video, while minimizing power consumption and maximizing performance.
"The agreement with Emblaze offers customers a robust and practical standards-based solution that is commercially available today," said Thierry Cammal, general manager of Motorola's Wireless and Broadband Systems Group for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). "Developers of today's mobile devices are increasingly demanding high-performance video streaming capabilities. We are leveraging and demonstrating best-in-class technologies from Emblaze and other vendors to enable these developers. This gives them a strong competitive advantage in this market."
The DragonBall MX1 is designed to deliver rich multimedia capabilities to developers while providing an advanced multimedia development environment, system-on-chip expertise and software tools. In addition to next-generation handheld (PDA) devices, DragonBall MX1 microprocessors with software, such as Emblaze's video player, are targeted for 2.5G and 3G mobile products, smart phones and advanced information appliances. The Emblaze technology is standards-based and, as such, is interoperable with any 3GPP compliant devices and infrastructure. Members of the 3GPP standard committee include Motorola, Nokia, Ericsson, Samsung and many others.
"This is a significant agreement for us," said Sasson Darwish, President, Emblaze Systems Inc. "It broadens our reach in terms of handset and device manufacturers as well as opening a new and significant revenue stream. The original DragonBall microprocessor was the pioneer in PDA technology and the latest version is set to drive the market further. Working with Motorola is an excellent endorsement of our technology and we look forward to a long and fruitful relationship."
With more than 30 million devices shipped to date and the support of a suite of software and reference designs, the DragonBall name is synonymous with industry-leading handheld organizers and other portable wireless products. Introduced in 1995, the DragonBall microprocessor is found in more than 75% of all the world's personal digital assistants (PDAs), according to IDC, and is featured in all products based on Palm OS(R) software today.
DragonBall MX1 Product Information
Motorola has developed additional licensing agreements for DragonBall MX1 with ARM Holding for use of the ARM920T(TM) 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(R) Windows(R) CE operating system, Linux(R) operating system, and Symbian(TM) operating system.
The DragonBall family is fully supported with the CodeWarrior(R) development environment from Metrowerks(R), 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 IDE(TM) 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.
About Emblaze Systems
Founded in 1994, Emblaze is listed on the London Stock Exchange (BLZ). Emblaze develops commercial mobile multimedia solutions for wireless carriers, content providers and handset manufacturers. With a product line ranging from mobile multimedia platforms to MPEG-4 video ASIC semiconductors, the Emblaze solution facilitates the deployment of commercial media services over any wireless network.
The Emblaze platform encompasses live and on-demand encoders, powerful streaming servers, content and asset management, system integration, billing interfaces and a wide range of media applications.
For more information, please visit: www.emblaze.com
About Motorola
As the world's #1 producer of embedded processors, Motorola's Semiconductor Products Sector offers multiple DigitalDNA(tm) technologies that enable its customers to create "smart" products and new business opportunities in the networking and computing, wireless communications, transportation, and home networking markets. Motorola's worldwide semiconductor sales were $7.9 billion (USD) in 2000.
www.motorola.com/semiconductors Inc. (NYSE:MOT - news) is a global leader in providing integrated communications and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 2000 were $37.6 billion. For more information: www.motorola.com
MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. The Bluetooth trademarks are owned by their proprietor and used by Motorola, Inc. under license. "ARM" is used to represent ARM Holdings plc (LSE: ARM and Nasdaq: ARMHY); its operating company ARM Limited; and the regional subsidiaries ARM, INC.; ARM KK; ARM Korea Ltd.; ARM Taiwan (c) Motorola, Inc. 2001
Contact:
Regina Cirmonova
Motorola
4122 7991 258
regina.cirmonova@motorola.com
Carolyn Smith
Motorola
512-895-2446
carolyn.g.smith@motorola.com
Bill Schnell
Motorola
512-895-2631
b.schnell@motorola.com
Gloria Shiu
Motorola
+85-22-666-8237
gloria.shiu@motorola.com
Deborah Brenner
Emblaze Systems, Inc.
212-371-1100
Deborah.Brenner@emblaze.com
Daniel O'Connell
Griffin Public Relations
212-481-3456
doconnell@griffinpr.com