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Open Kernel Labs Secure HyperCell Technology Targets Smartphones and Featurephones Built on Multicore ARM Chipsets

CHICAGO—(BUSINESS WIRE)—December 15, 2008— Open Kernel Labs (OK Labs), the leading global provider of embedded virtualization software for mobile phones and broadband internet devices, today introduced its roadmap for supporting advanced mobile chipsets built on ARM® Cortex™-A8 and Cortex-A9 MPCore™ multicore processors. OK Labs technology targets use cases that include both Symmetric Multi-Processing (SMP) on dual, tri- and quad-core mobile CPUs as well as asymmetric multicore systems with ARM processors dedicated to different processing functions.

Open Kernel Labs OKL4 already supports a number of shipping multicore ARM chipsets, such as the Qualcomm MSM7201A. By targeting mobile chipsets built on ARM Cortex processors today, OKL4 can accompany the rollout of the latest ARM technology by the gamut of ARM CPU licensees, such as Broadcom, Freescale, Marvell, NXP, Qualcomm, Samsung, and ST Microelectronics.

Today, the trend is for handset OEMs to deploy multiple ARM CPUs in their premier offerings, similar to what has been done with the HTC G1 Android phone. As in the enterprise and desktop markets, multicore applications promise to expand into the mainstream. In particular, multicore chipset supplier roadmaps point to increasing ubiquity to meet growing requirements for multimedia, security and performance.

“Not so long ago, multicore processors were only found in high-end data center hardware,” noted Steve Subar, CEO, Open Kernel Labs. “Multicore CPUs are now mainstream in the data center and on the desktop, and are rapidly making inroads into mobile/wireless device design. To support that trend, mobile chipset vendors and handset OEMs look to OK Labs to help them realize optimal performance and reliability from current and next-generation multicore CPUs.”

“Virtualization technology enables OEMs to make rapid use of the advances in multicore technology in the ARM Cortex processor family,” added Eric Schorn, Vice President of Marketing, Processor Division, ARM. “As ARM continues to invest in processors such as the Cortex-A9 MPCore and the ARM11 MPCore processor, software partners like OK Labs are helping streamline the adoption of advanced software developments while enhancing ARM processor capabilities for the Connected Community.”

Secure HyperCell and Virtualization of Multicore CPUs

Open Kernel Labs OKL4 Secure HyperCellTM platform addresses a range of applications and use cases for virtualization and multicore CPUs. The most ubiquitous is the need to manage and distribute the capabilities of multiple CPU cores to one or more simplex (non-SMP) client operating systems (e.g., a legacy RTOS). Another is to facilitate the sharing of multiple cores among both simplex and SMP client OSes (RTOS, Windows Mobile, SymbianOS and Linux). For these and other cases, OKL4 provides critical support for load balancing, multi-threading, and inter-client communication in a secure and reliable virtualization platform.

Mobile devices, software and services built on the OKL4 hypervisor benefit from OK Labs flexible and robust virtualization architecture. By supporting a broad range of use cases and capabilities, OK Labs gives handset manufacturers and ultimately their partners, wireless operators and content providers, concrete benefits: faster time to market for products and for rollout of high-value services; continuity with legacy software and hardware, and existing revenue-generating mobile services; greater protection for software and content residing on mobile devices; and stronger security for the networks they connect to. Incorporating OK Labs Secure HyperCell technology enables the mobile ecosystem to deliver a safe and reliable end-user experience.

Open Kernel Labs

Open Kernel Labs is the leading supplier of open source embedded hypervisor and virtualization technology to developers of embedded designs for mobile handsets and other consumer electronics applications. Backed by the largest, independent team of microkernel developers, OK Labs delivers OKL4, an embedded hypervisor, which offers the highest performance combined with strong protection and security features. OKL4 provides developers with a robust, open source platform for building secure, differentiated embedded applications. For more information about OK Labs and its products, visit http://www.ok-labs.com. OK Labs is a spin-out from NICTA, Australia’s preeminent Center of Excellence for information and communications technology, http://nicta.com.au/.

For information on the OK Community, please visit the Community Portal at http://www.ok-labs.com/community/community-portal. Participants can join the Developer's Mailing List at http://www.ok-labs.com/community/mailing-list-signup.

Open Kernel Labs, OK Labs and Secure HyperCell are trademarks or registered trademarks of Open Kernel Labs or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Open Kernel Labs, OK Labs and Secure HyperCell are trademarks or registered trademarks of Open Kernel Labs or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.



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