Equator Makes iMMediaTools Software Development Toolkit 6.0 and Linux for BSP-15 Chip Available to Software Partners

Business Wire, August 14, 2002

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

CAMPBELL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 14, 2002

Early Access to Linux Support Speeds Time to

Market for Video-Centric Applications

Equator Technologies Inc., a leading provider of high-performance, programmable and power-efficient system-on-a-chip (SOC) processors for video streaming and image processing applications, today announced that its iMMediaTools(R) Software Development Toolkit Version 6.0 and its port of Embedded Linux for BSP(TM)-15 processors are now available for software partners. This release will enable Equator's software partners to meet the demand for Linux-based solutions by porting their advanced codecs and other video-centric applications to the Linux platform.

iMMediaTools Software Development Toolkit Version 6.0 offers many features and enhancements for improved performance and faster time to market of video applications. The toolkit's support of Linux, an open-source and widely accessible operating system, ensures that OEM customers can utilize the wide variety of available Linux applications to develop new, feature-rich, video-centric applications in an embedded environment at significantly lower overall systems costs. Included in this distribution is support for the newly announced Tetra Hardware Platform, Equator's low-cost, compact and modular hardware platform for a variety of applications ranging from streaming video appliances and personal video recorders to IP cameras and digital video recorders.

"Giving our partners access to our new toolkit at this stage is beneficial to all parties," said Frans Sijstermans, vice president of engineering, Equator Technologies. "The early release of Toolkit 6.0 and Linux gives our partners a head-start on developing software solutions for our platform. The big winners in this are the customers who ultimately save time with ready-made solutions and reduce system cost with our single-chip, video-centric SOC that can run everything from codecs to Linux."

About Equator Technologies, Inc.

Equator Technologies is a leading provider of high performance, programmable, power efficient System-on-a-chip processors designed for video streaming and image processing applications across a wide range of consumer and enterprise end markets. Equator offers the BSP family of Broadband Signal Processor chips, the iMMediaTools(R) software development toolkit, media libraries, and reference platforms for development and deployment of video streaming and video processing systems. With more than 150 customers worldwide, Equator provides solutions to the digital media, digital video communications, video security and surveillance, digital imaging, and automotive video markets. Based on a high-performance VLIW core and optimized for video processing, the BSP-15 family of chips delivers up to 40 GOPS of video processing power. Utilizing Equator's optimizing compiler technology, BSP-15 chips are 100% programmable in C/C , enabling rapid deployment and field upgradeability of new applications and devices. A software programmable BSP-15 chip can replace multiple fixed-function ASICs, thereby reducing both complexity and cost of system designs. Winner of the "2001 Fabless Semiconductor Association Best Financial Performer -- Private Company" award and picked by Cahners Research as the top private company on the list of 30 best small electronics companies, Equator is a recognized leader in video processing solutions. Founded in 1996, Equator is a privately held company headquartered in Campbell, Calif., with additional offices worldwide. More information about Equator is available at www.equator.com.

The following are trademarks of Equator Technologies, Inc., and may be used to identify Equator products only: Equator, the Equator logo, Equator Around, the Equator Around logo, MAP, MAP1000, MAP1000A, MAP-CA, MAP Series, Broadband Signal Processor, BSP, FIRtree, DataStreamer, DS, iMMediaC, iMMediaTools, iMMediaToolsLite, Media Intrinsics, VersaPort, SofTV, StingRay, Dolphin, and Tetra. Other product and company names contained herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.