STMicroelectronics Extends Support For Windows CE To Its PC-on-a-chip STPC Family

Business Wire, Nov 2, 1998

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 2, 1998-- STMicroelectronics today announced it is working with Microsoft Corp. to support its STPC single-chip PC family of products on the Windows CE operating system. The Company was also named a Microsoft Windows CE Semiconductor Partner.

As the main actor on the embedded PC-on-a-chip arena, ST has the semiconductor and system-on-chip technology expertise necessary to help extend the reach of Windows CE to a broader range of products such as ultra-low cost PCs, information appliances, thin client and industrial applications. Furthermore, the two companies have agreed to collaborate to ensure the Windows CE operating system and its software development tools are supported on the STPC. The STPC running Windows CE will be demonstrated at both the ST and Microsoft Corp. booths at the Embedded Systems Conference.

Jean-Claude Monney, Marketing Director at ST's New Ventures Group, said, "In the two years since ST pioneered the single-chip PC with its STPC family, it has been adopted by a growing number of customers for a wide range of applications, that cover multiple aspects of low-cost information appliances which are presently bringing the `information society' to the mass market. The availability of Microsoft Windows CE on the STPC family will enhance software support for the STPC and make both products even more compelling."

By providing all the key functions in one superintegrated chip that is fully PC compatible and based on the x86 architecture, the STPC family delivers lower cost and higher reliability while eliminating the compatibility problems often encountered when standard PC solutions are used. The x86 architecture offers the world's largest software assets, and this value, previously only available to the PC industry, is now being extended to the embedded market by the STPC.

"As embedded devices become more intelligent, integrated chips like the STPC paired with Windows CE provide embedded developers with a low-power, high-performance solution," said Tony Barbagallo, group product manager, Windows CE at Microsoft. "This type of combination is exactly what is needed in this category."

ST has recognized the value of Windows CE and invested in a software team dedicated to port Windows CE to the STPC family, which includes the STPC Client, the STPC Consumer and the newly introduced STPC Industrial. ST is working with Microsoft-approved systems integrators for Windows CE to offer customers the level of solution expertise and time to market that is essential in today's competitive world.

About Windows CE

Windows CE was designed to provide connectivity and interoperability to power the new era of interconnected computing devices. Since the modular, scalable Windows CE platform is based on the Win32 API, developers can use their programming knowledge to build embedded systems and applications. The Win32-based process model creates the first widely available platform to foster a thriving third-party industry, with products such as advanced development and analysis tools, network protocols and software libraries and utilities. At the same time, Windows CE provides a stable, well-supported and modular operating system that can handle the wide variety of hardware platforms needed for embedded systems.

STMicroelectronics (formerly known as SGS-THOMSON Microelectronics) is a global independent semiconductor company with strong European roots, whose shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: STM), on the Bourse de Paris, and on the Milan Stock Exchange. It designs, develops, manufactures, and markets a broad range of semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) and discrete devices used in a wide variety of microelectronic applications, including telecommunications systems, computer systems, consumer products, automotive products, and industrial automation and control systems. In 1997, the Company has received numerous awards, including the European Quality Award, and has been recognized as one of the world's best companies by Industry Week and Upside magazine. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.

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