BSQUARE and AMD Provide Free Source Code for Microsoft Windows CE Board Support Packages; Announce Support for Microsoft Windows CE 5.0 and Availability of Service Packages

Business Wire, June 29, 2004

SAN DIEGO -- BSQUARE (Nasdaq:BSQR) today announced free source code to Microsoft(R) Windows(R) CE 5.0 Board Support Packages (BSPs) for the AMD Alchemy(TM) Au1x00 Processor Family, including the Au1550(TM) processor. The announcement, at Microsoft's Windows Embedded DevCon conference, enables developers to rapidly evaluate BSQUARE's BSPs and prototype embedded systems, such as handhelds, set-top boxes, residential gateways and home/office automation devices, using AMD Alchemy Development Boards and Reference Design Kits. BSQUARE is also including a limited evaluation version of Datalight FlashFX and announced support of the new Datalight Flash FX MT evaluation in select AMD Alchemy Board Support Packages.

Free source code to BSQUARE's Windows CE .NET 4.2 BSPs for AMD Alchemy Au1x00 solutions is currently available from BSQUARE and support for CE 5.0 is expected to be available in September. All of BSQUARE's BSPs include fully extensible system software source code, boot loader and OEM Adaptation Layer (OAL) source code, peripheral device drivers, DMA controller, network support source code, and documentation for all custom APIs.

To assist smart device developers in bringing AMD Au1x00 designs to market more rapidly, BSQUARE also announced a low cost BSQUARE BSP Service Package for AMD Alchemy solution featuring development tools, consulting, training and technical support. The solution bundles 10 technical support incidents; BSQUARE's five-day "Caffeinated Windows CE Training" class; a CD containing the BSP source code and complete documentation; four hours of consulting with a BSQUARE Solution Architect; and Microsoft Platform Builder for Windows CE.

"BSQUARE makes it easier for developers to create Windows CE-based devices on AMD Alchemy Au1x00 Development Boards and Reference Design Kits," said Erik Salo, director of marketing, AMD Personal Connectivity Solutions Group. "With full access to BSP source code and the option to leverage BSQUARE's consulting and training expertise, AMD Alchemy customers can further reduce their hardware evaluation time and accelerate time to market by modifying the BSP to meet specific application requirements."

"By releasing free source code, we intend to encourage more smart device developers to consider the low-power, high performance advantages of AMD Alchemy processors on the Windows CE platform," said Scott Sedlik, vice president of marketing at BSQUARE. "Developers now have a suite of AMD Alchemy processors, development boards and production-ready BSPs for Windows CE to select from and optimize."

BSQUARE is also including an evaluation version of Datalight's FlashFX, enabling developers to leverage the price-performance benefits of Spansion(TM) flash memory with MirrorBit(TM) technology. Based on patented technology and over 30 man-years of development, FlashFX simplifies working with flash memory by presenting a familiar block oriented interface to the file system and applications, while hiding the more complex issues involved in using flash memory technology. In addition, an evaluation version of the new Datalight Flash FX MT will be available in September from BSQUARE in select AMD Alchemy Board Support Packages. Multimedia FlashFX(TM). This next-generation FlashFX software targets device OEMs implementing applications that require multithreaded real-time performance such as streaming video.

BSQUARE's Windows CE .NET 4.2 BSPs are available for the Au1550 processor and the DBAu1550(TM) Development Board, DBAu1000(TM) and Pb1000(TM) Development Boards, the DBAu1100(TM) and Pb1100(TM) Development Boards, the DBAu1500(TM) and Pb1500(TM) Development Boards, and the Mirage Portable Media Tablet RDK and Hydrogen III Mobile Handheld RDK.

Pricing and Availability

The Windows CE .NET 4.2 BSPs for AMD Alchemy solutions are free to download from BSQUARE's web site, http://www.bsquare.com/products/bsp/amd.asp. Windows CE 5.0 BSPS for AMD Alchemy are expected to be available in September from BSQUARE. The company's AMD Alchemy solutions BSP Service Package is $8,500. Contact BSQUARE sales for more information at 888-820-4500.

About BSQUARE

BSQUARE is a leading global provider of software, engineering services and consulting for the smart device market. Since 1994, BSQUARE has provided world-class device makers with the building blocks necessary to design, develop, and test innovative products quickly and cost effectively. A sample of BSQUARE customers includes Motorola, Hewlett-Packard, Texas Instruments, Vodafone U.K., HTC, Microsoft and others. BSQUARE is one of Microsoft's largest value-added partners worldwide for Windows Embedded software, a Gold-level Systems Integrator of the year and a leading Windows Mobile solutions provider for Smartphone and Pocket PC. BSQUARE is a Texas Instruments-licensed Independent OMAP(TM) (Open Multimedia Application Platform) Technology Center. The company's SDIO Now! technology has been adopted by over 60 top-tier smart device makers. For more information, visit BSQUARE at www.bsquare.com or call 888-820-4500.