BSQUARE Launches SDIO Now! V2.2; New Cost-Effective Solution for Enabling Wi-Fi Capability in Smartphones

Business Wire, Jan 3, 2006

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- BSQUARE (Nasdaq: BSQR) today launched SDIO Now! V2.2 which offers OEMs a cost-effective solution for adding two MultiMediaCard (MMC), Secure Digital (SD) or Secure Digital Input Output (SDIO) cards to converged mobile devices such as smartphones. OEMs can now economically add Wi-Fi capabilities to smartphones and other embedded devices by using an internal SDIO Wi-Fi card while adding a second external expansion slot for high-density memory cards or other SDIO peripherals. According to In-Stat, the market for Wi-Fi enabled mobile PCs, PDAs, and phones will continue to grow at 66.2 CAGR, reaching 226.0 million units shipped in 2008.

SDIO Now! V2.2 enables OEMs to support two MMC/SD/SDIO slots using the single internal host controller available in either the Intel(R) PXA270 Processor or in the TI OMAP 850 processor. By eliminating the need for OEMs to add a second host controller chip to support a second slot, SDIO Now! V2.2 lowers device costs and size.

"Consumers are demanding Wi-Fi on their cellular devices because it opens the door for applications such Voice Over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) that can dramatically lower usage costs. With SDIO Now! V2.2, BSQUARE continues to provide leadership and innovation by enabling OEMs to more cost effectively address customer requirements," said Pawan Gupta, Vice President of Products, BSQUARE.

SDIO Now! continues to offer optimized performance when compared with other Windows CE software stacks. For example, SDIO V2.2 offers Fast Path technology, which boosts system throughput, a critical measure of Wi-Fi performance, by up to 200%.

"We are excited about the way software solution providers like BSQUARE have found ways to enhance the Intel(R) PXA2XX Processor offerings. SDIO V2.2 enables OEMs to take advantage of the broad peripheral set available with the Intel(R) PXA270 Processor," said Scott McCormack, Embedded Marketing Manager, Intel Corporation. This solution from BSQUARE will give our customers the ability to add more features and functionality to their devices for a lower cost."

SDIO Now! V2.2 for Windows CE will ship in Q1 2006.

About BSQUARE

BSQUARE is a software solution provider to the global embedded device community. Committed to delivering quality, lowering project risk and cost as well as time to market, our teams collaborate with smart device makers at any stage in their device development. Our solution portfolio includes software and hardware development, systems integration services, reference designs, board support packages, middleware, and applications. As a full service provider, device makers can also license best-in-class software products and operating systems. Since 1994, BSQUARE has completed hundreds of successful projects and has become a trusted partner to smart device makers worldwide. For more information about BSQUARE, visit its website at www.bsquare.com.

BSQUARE is a registered trademark of BSQUARE Corporation. Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.