Accelent Systems Inc. Announces Strategic Partnership With Global Internet Appliance Manufacturer, AboCom Systems, Inc

Business Wire, Jan 6, 2001

Business Editors, High Tech Writers

CES 2001

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2001

Accelent Systems, Inc., a leading enabler of Internet appliances (IA), announced today its strategic partnership with AboCom Systems, Inc., one of the world's largest providers of Mobile Interconnected Products (MIP).

AboCom, headquartered in Taiwan, provides a full range of mobile and SOHO data solutions. AboCom is releasing a new Webpad(TM), the X-Pilot(TM) MA 1000, the first product resulting from the partnership, at the 2001 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The exciting X-Pilot MA 1000 is based on Windows CE 3.0, the Microsoft embedded operating system for 32-bit, connected client devices that enable rich applications and Internet services and Intel(R) StrongARM(R) microprocessor.

The partnership between Accelent and AboCom recognizes the synergy between the core competencies possessed by each firm. AboCom has adopted Accelent's Intelligent System Software (iSyS(TM)) technology as the enabling software upon which its X-Pilot MA 1000 is based. Accelent's software technologies and services were chosen as a means to significantly reduce product development cycles to enhance time-to-market for the AboCom products.

As noted by Mr. Keith White, Director of Marketing for the Embedded and Appliance Platforms Group (EAPG) at Microsoft Corp., "This partnership and the resulting products will set a new standard in the development of Internet appliances. Accelent's technologies coupled with the rich multimedia and browsing capabilities of Windows CE 3.0 has enabled AboCom to quickly and easily bring to market the X-Pilot, a highly functional and portable Internet appliance."

According to the AboCom Chairman, Mr. Ping Chen, "The use of Accelent's Integrated Development Platform allows our company to concentrate development efforts on new applications for our products to offer end users the latest features available for Internet appliances. For example, by using Accelent's products and services, the development time of our new multi-functional wireless Webpad was reduced by more than one year and the corresponding development cost was reduced by more than one million dollars. The fact that we have a completed product available for sale during the CES show can be directly attributed to our use of Accelent's technology."

According to Dr. Yung-Fu Chang, President and CEO of Accelent, "The adoption of the Accelent IDP by AboCom is the latest in a series of similar moves by global OEMs and ODMs that develop products ranging from smart phones, audio players, video players, PDAs, PDTs and other Internet appliances. Accelent expects this global trend to continue as the worldwide market for wireless, multi-function mobile interconnected products continues to surge."

About AboCom

AboCom Systems, Inc., a Taiwanese company, was founded in 1995 and went public in December of 2000. AboCom has established itself as a leader in the communication technology industry with its superior products and services for Network Data Communication and, as a result, has been growing at more than 100% annually over the past four years.

To serve the emerging need for Internet appliances, the Mobile Interconnected Products Division of AboCom has developed a total solution for Information appliances based on the Windows CE operating system and Intel StrongARM platform.

With its solid engineering expertise and acute product marketing perspective, the company has introduced IA designs far ahead of others in the market. This, combined with AboCom's key strengths of product development, manufacturing, logistic support and professional engineering services, can bring a new IA concept into production within four to six months. To this end, AboCom's main goal is to assist its customers on focusing their resources on marketing and business development.

About Accelent Systems

Accelent Systems is uniquely positioned to provide complete software and hardware solutions for Internet appliance developers and manufacturers. The company has designed and built a set of highly refined Intelligent Systems Software (iSyS) tools that enable Microsoft Windows CE or Linux based application software to be easily integrated with portable computing platforms. These software tools are coupled with Accelent's development/reference platform hardware designs based on Intel StrongARM/XScale and other ARM-based microprocessors. Together, they provide a complete, proven solution, which enables Internet appliance product manufacturers to bring products to market in the fastest time and at the lowest possible cost.

Accelent's iSyS software is used in products such as PDAs, PDTs, web pads, and Internet audio devices, as well as other embedded systems. Today, nearly 80% of Accelent's employees are experienced embedded hardware and software engineers. The firm, which has experienced significant growth since being founded in 1997, expects to ship over one million software licenses in 2001.

Intel and StrongARM/XScale are trademarks of Intel Corporation, StrongARM is a registered trademark of ARM, Ltd. iSyS is a trademark of Accelent Systems. Webpad is a trademark of National Semiconductor. Other brand or product names are the property of their respective owners.