Phoenix Announces USB Support for Microsoft Windows NT Embedded 4.0; Phoenix's System Enabling Software and USB Firmware Complements Windows NT Embedded 4.0

Business Wire, August 10, 1999

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 10, 1999--

Phoenix Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq:PTEC) -- the leading provider of system enabling solutions for the connected computing universe -- today announced full USB software support for the Microsoft Windows NT Embedded operating system version 4.0 with its system enabling software and its USBAccess(tm) connectivity solutions.

Windows NT Embedded 4.0, announced by Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT) in February -- with general availability announced yesterday -- delivers new features and design tools to help manufacturers of embedded and specific function devices reduce time to market for new devices, lower development costs and improve the functionality of their solutions.

The new features include support for headless operation (in which no mouse, keyboard or display devices are required), diskless operation (in which users can operate from read-only media such as CD-ROMs or FLASH) and remote management capabilities.

The Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard has been extremely successful, with millions of USB devices on the market today. Now, Phoenix solutions in two areas allow USB capability to be added to embedded systems based on Windows NT Embedded 4.0. Phoenix system enabling software, also known as BIOS, not only supports USB, but also provides additional support and features to complement the Windows NT Embedded 4.0 software. Phoenix's USB protocol firmware, USBAccess, commonly referred to as the 'USB Stack,' enables Windows NT Embedded 4.0-based systems to support USB peripherals.

"We are very pleased that Phoenix's solutions are now available to customers of Windows NT Embedded 4.0," said Vince Mendillo, lead product manager for Windows NT Embedded 4.0, Microsoft Corp. "In combining the Microsoft and Phoenix solutions, manufacturers of embedded and specific function devices can design products that support a broader array of devices and can be remotely administered. Our mutual customers can only benefit from such a powerful combination."

"Phoenix's extensive experience with USB technology and world class-system enabling software allows us to uniquely deliver a complete USB solution to the system designer using Microsoft's new software," said Laurent Gharda, vice president of marketing, Phoenix Technologies. "By providing key software that supports Windows NT Embedded 4.0, Phoenix allows system developers to improve and reduce time to market, thus helping spark the rapid proliferation of new and advanced USB-enabled embedded devices."

Phoenix Embedded System Enabling Software

Phoenix's USB support complements Windows NT Embedded 4.0 capabilities by providing boot support for CD-ROMs, solid-state media, and USB mass storage devices, such as USB floppy drives. Additionally, Phoenix also provides a complete suite of system enabling software that allows embedded system developers to differentiate their systems' capabilities.

Phoenix Quickboot(tm), a feature that decreases the boot time of a system, enables faster application launch at power-on. Unattended POST (power on self-test) allows a system to recover from errors without user intervention. Phoenix Universal Console Redirect (UCR) provides the ability to redirect video and keyboard functions to a host machine for remote management of the embedded system, which is needed to support the "headless" operation of Windows NT Embedded 4.0.

These system enabling software features are designed to complement the capabilities of Windows NT Embedded 4.0, providing manufacturers with a robust collection of capabilities required to build embedded devices and information appliances.

Phoenix USB Firmware

USBAccess, combined with Windows NT Embedded 4.0, allows system designers to quickly implement USB capability, including hot swap and plug-and-play functionality, at a fraction of the development time required for standard embedded PC applications. Designs implementing USB also benefit from the reduced number of connector ports required by the system, thereby reducing costs and streamlining space requirements.

About Phoenix

Phoenix products and services play a critical role linking computing and communications technologies for OEMs and Internet service and content providers, benefiting the information consumer. The company's system enabling software is designed into more than 70 million PCs sold annually and in millions of other devices. Phoenix's ebetween division provides consumers with convenient, user-friendly access to valuable Internet content and services that enhance the on-line experience.

Phoenix also provides information platform manufacturers with the most robust range of embedded communications solutions in the industry. Founded in 1979, the international company headquartered in San Jose, Calif. Information about Phoenix and its products is available at www.phoenix.com.

Note to Editors: Phoenix Technologies is a trademark and Phoenix and ebetween are registered trademarks of Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.