Phoenix Technologies announces Plug and Play BIOS Extensions 4.0; Coupled with Phoenix's election to the Plug and Play Association Steering Committee, Phoenix continues leadership in Plug and Play technology

Business Wire, Nov 14, 1994

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 14, 1994--Phoenix Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:PTEC), Monday announced the availability of PnP BIOS Extensions 4.0, a Plug and Play BIOS developed by Phoenix which includes BIOS extensions to support Plug and Play configuration utilities for DOS and Windows 3.1, as well as run-time functionality to support Plug and Play compatible operating systems such as Microsoft's Windows 95, based on the industry standard Plug and Play BIOS specification jointly developed by Compaq, Intel and Phoenix.

Phoenix PnP-4.0 sports the industry's smallest code size: 4K for Plug and Play run-time services based on the industry standard Plug and Play BIOS specification, and 10K for Plug and Play BIOS extensions developed by Phoenix, which performs complete configuration, conflict detection and conflict resolution of Plug and Play ISA add-in cards automatically during the boot process.

Phoenix PnP-4.0 provides all necessary support for Plug and Play peripherals and Plug and Play operating systems. Through the Plug and Play BIOS extensions, all Plug and Play add-in cards and peripherals are detected and fully configured when a non-Plug and Play operating system is being used. When a Plug and Play compliant operating system is being used, only boot devices are configured, leaving the configuration of non-boot Plug and Play devices to the operating system.

"The Phoenix Plug and Play extensions were developed in response to our customers' needs for a smaller Plug and Play BIOS kernel. We can now provide a savings of about 15k compared to other PnP BIOS products, resulting in a more cost effective solution for our OEM customers," said Jeff Kunzelman, director of Core Architecture Group at Phoenix Technologies Ltd. "Intel did a good job with their PnP kits to promote the technology and standardize the interface. We took our original PCI kernel, which was the first PCI BIOS introduced to the market place, and brought in our experts that developed the Windows 95 System BIOS Enumerator, the PnP BIOS specification 1.0 A, PCI-PCI bridge support as well as those who went through the evolution of the Intel BIOS Extensions, and put together our PnP-4.0 solution. PnP-4.0 was designed into our PhoenixBIOS 4.0's distributed architecture, it's not just a monolithic code module glued to our BIOS, it is a natural extension to its functionality."

The Phoenix PnP-4.0 provides support for a combination of PCI, ISA, EISA, PCMCIA and motherboard devices. It fully supports and is compatible with existing DOS and Windows operating systems and utilities such as Intel's ISA Configuration Utility (ICU) and Configuration Manager (CM), as well as fully supporting Plug and Play compatible operating systems such as Microsoft Windows 95.

PhoenixBIOS 4.0 has become the most successful commercial BIOS product ever introduced. It is a fourth generation, object oriented BIOS which addresses the challenges faced by most PC manufacturers: how to incorporate new features without risking compatibility, and how to quickly port an existing system BIOS to a new platform. At the last Plug and Play Association (PPA) PlugFest held in San Francisco, Oct. 11 - 13, 1994, Phoenix Technologies was elected as a member of the Steering Committee of the Plug and Play Association by representatives of more than 250 members of the Association. Phoenix Technologies together with other industry leaders such as Compaq, Intel and Microsoft pioneered the Plug and Play technology and has been very active in promoting the Plug and Play initiative throughout the industry. Phoenix Technologies was re-elected to the PCMCIA Board of Directors for a second term at the last meeting of the PCMCIA committee. Phoenix Technologies is also a member of the PCI Special Interest Group (PCISIG) Steering Committee.

Phoenix Technologies Ltd. is the leading supplier of system-level software to PC manufacturers worldwide and an emerging supplier of Phoenix-brand software to PC users. Its system-level software products, such as BIOS, power management, PCMCIA, and Plug and Play technology, allow PC manufacturers to increase product differentiation, and reduce product development time and internal engineering costs. Capitalizing on its unique industry position and resources, Phoenix is creating an expanding family of software products for end users that will make their PCs easier to use. -0-

NOTE TO EDITORS: Phoenix is a registered trademark of Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All other trademarks are registered trademarks of their respective companies.

CONTACT: Phoenix Technologies Ltd.

              Albert Saraie, 714/440-8335
                 or
              The Benjamin Group
              Elizabeth Deans, 714/753-0755