General Software Announces Embedded BIOS(R) 2000 Support for New VIA CX700 Chipset

Market Wire, April, 2006

General Software, Inc., the leading supplier of embedded x86 firmware solutions, today announced further expansion of its product line with a new Embedded BIOS® 2000 support module that provides BIOS support for the new VIA CX700 single-chip chipset. Together these two products enable users to build highly differentiated embedded x86 products.

The highly integrated VIA CX700 digital media chipset combines leading performance, power-efficiency and extended connectivity to enable unprecedented system design innovation for VIA C7® and VIA Eden® processor-powered embedded devices. The VIA CX700 packs a comprehensive range of storage, multimedia and connectivity options, including native Serial ATA and multiple configuration V-RAID, VIA Vinyl High Definition Audio, DDR2 support, into a single, compact chip.

"New standards for high performance, low power consumption, and heat dissipation continue to be set by VIA's embedded chipset family. General Software is pleased to offer VIA's customers Embedded BIOS 2000 support for this new chipset," said Steve Dearden, General Software's vice president of sales and marketing. "We look forward to empowering our mutual customers on many new VIA processor platform designs."

"General Software have long dedicated support to the VIA platform, and we are delighted that their new Embedded BIOS 2000 module extends that support to our newest chipset designed especially for the embedded market," said Timothy Chen, Special Assistant to the President, VIA Technologies, Inc. "The VIA CX700 looks set to take a prominent role in embedded design, so it's great that full BIOS support is already in place."

The support module is offered as an option for Embedded BIOS 2000, the world's most configurable BIOS development kit. Licensed in source code form, developers are free to tailor the BIOS to fit the exact needs of the device they are creating, rather than being constrained by architectures more applicable to desktop PCs. The support module includes full implementation for the chipset's important features, including all ACPI power management modes, graphics and audio support, along with BIOS level UDMA and quick boot. The processor is fully compatible with General Software's unique Firmbase® Technology and Firmware Application Suite(TM), an integrated set of prewritten applications employing Firmbase Technology that enable important device management functions; boot security, platform updating and high availability. The module is available for immediate shipment. Development licenses start at $7500 for existing users.

About Embedded BIOS® 2000

Embedded BIOS 2000 is the leading BIOS SDK for embedded x86 designs, with over 850 OEM-customizable configuration parameters, support for multiple embedded operating systems, and support for major OS and hardware initiatives. Embedded BIOS 2000 addresses the entire lifecycle of products, from board bring-up, configuration prototyping, testing with system diagnostics, and product manufacturing to in-field diagnostics and software reload. Features include an integrated debugger; quick boot; console redirection; highly configurable POST; manufacturing mode; ROM, RAM, and Flash file systems; support for a host of industry initiatives; and much more. Embedded BIOS 2000 supports industry-standard operating systems that run on PC-compatible hardware, including the full spectrum of Windows, Linux, and real-time operating systems.

About Firmbase® SDK

The Firmbase® Software Development Kit is used by developers to create firmware applications that harness Firmbase Technology. Firmbase Technology is General Software's patented 32-bit firmware infrastructure that contributes the surety and trust expected from firmware applications. A non-stop SMM envelope keeps firmware applications running, even when the OS and user application have failed, or are missing. Firmbase Technology is ROM-resident and provides a chain of trust from power-on to OS boot and beyond. It supplies the user-level security for the BIOS and for firmware applications which do not run under OS control.

About the Firmware Application Suite(TM)

The Firmware Application Suite is an integrated set of prewritten and tested applications employing Firmbase Technology that provide important device management functions. The applications include Boot Security, for ensuring device and application integrity, Platform Update Facility for manually or remotely installing new firmware, OS or user application images, and a High Availability Monitor which is capable of detecting and responding to OS and user application failures.

About General Software, Inc.

General Software, Inc. provides superior embedded x86 firmware solutions and world-class support for OEM manufacturers of telecommunications, data communications, consumer electronics, dedicated servers, and other specialized computing devices. General Software's well-architected and reliable firmware products reduce risk, speed development, and address embedded OEM product lifecycle needs. For more information about General Software and its embedded firmware, visit www.gensw.com , e-mail sales@gensw.com , or contact David Tobar at 800-850-5755 or 425-576-8300.