Microsoft To Support Motorola PowerPC Processors with New Portable Operating System, Windows CE

Business Wire, Dec 4, 1996

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 4, 1996--In an announcement at the Hand-Held and PDA Expo and Forum, Microsoft(R) said it will support Motorola's PowerPC family of processors with Microsoft's recently debuted Windows(R) CE operating system.

Motorola's popular PowerPC MPC 8xx family of microprocessors and its strength in wired and wireless communications technologies enable a broad range of communications, entertainment and mobile computing solutions based in Windows CE.

"An industry leader in processors, wired and wireless communication, Motorola is already an established player in portable computing and communications," said Harel Kodesh, general manager of the consumer appliance group at Microsoft.

"That experience makes them an ideal partner as we prepare to introduce a broad range of non-PC and information appliance product categories based on Windows CE."

The Windows CE operating system is a 32-bit, multitasking, multithreaded operating system with an open architecture that enables a variety of devices. Standard communications features are built into Windows CE enabling access to the Internet and the World Wide Web.

Motorola's PowerPC offerings for portable applications feature devices like the MPC 821 and MPC 823 microprocessors. Both processors feature a high-performance PowerPC core, low power consumption and extensive development tool support including compilers, source level debuggers, logic analyzers and background debug systems.

Both devices have on-chip Communication Processor Modules (CPM) that enable communications tasks such as wired and wireless protocols and enable embedded signal processing for user interfaces like real-time speech recognition. The MPC 823's CPM is optimized for low power, image capture, portable and personal communications products.

"Products like the MPC 821 and MPC 823 microprocessors are the result of the synergy between Motorola's development efforts for computation and communications," said Tom Beaver, corporate vice president, Motorola SPS World Marketing.

"That kind of feature integration is important to the users of handheld devices. We're proud to be working with Microsoft on multifunctional solutions for these users."

"As a major wireless device supplier, Motorola's Land Mobile Products Sector Worldwide Data Solutions Division (WWDSD) is pleased to hear the news of Windows CE for the MPC devices.

"We believe this may be a powerful platform to address the wireless solution need of mobile customers and we'll be looking closely for applications in our markets," said Jamie Bader, Motorola vice president and general manager for WWDSD.

25 Years of Processor Architecture Leadership

Throughout the quarter-century since introduction of the single-chip microprocessor, Motorola has played a key role in developing a wide array of processor architecture devices including microprocessors, microcontrollers and digital signal processors.

Motorola's contributions to industry-standard architectures include the 6800, 68000, DSP56000, 6805, 68HC11/12 and PowerPC families. Over these twenty-five years, Motorola has shipped more processors worldwide than any other semiconductor supplier while successfully enabling products and applications including desktop computers, Internet appliances, electronic automobiles, multimedia set-top boxes and interactive microcontroller-based smartcards.

Energized by the industry's broadest processor technology portfolio, Motorola proudly offers a myriad of devices that are re-shaping the electronics industry, changing the way people work, play and communicate.

With 1995 worldwide sales of $8.5 billion, Motorola's Semiconductor Products Sector is committed to enabling its customers' success by providing systems solutions, processes and services to anticipate and respond to changing technologies and market dynamics.

As the largest U.S.-based, broad-line semiconductor supplier, Motorola's Semiconductor Products Sector delivers global resources, product design and development expertise and the highest-quality technology solutions to its customers.

Motorola semiconductors power automobiles, communications and computing systems and millions of other consumer products.

In the global marketplace, Motorola is also one of the leading providers of wireless communications, advanced electronic systems, components, and services. Major equipment businesses include cellular telephone, two-way radio, paging and data communications, personal communications, automotive, defense and space electronics and computers. Corporate sales in 1995 were $27 billion. -0-

Note to Editors: Motorola is a registered trademark of Motorola Inc. PowerPC is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation, used under license therefrom.

CONTACT: Motorola

Ken Edwards, 512/891-2142

R14518@email.sps.mot.com

or

Cunningham Communication, Inc.

Greg Evans, 512/347-2305

greg@ccipr.com