Press Releases

Linux Systems Software Provides Critical Real-Time Capability and Service Reliability for
Automatic Vehicle Location and Passenger Information System

SUNNYVALE, Calif., and GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Sept. 2, 2003 — MontaVista Software, Inc., the company powering the embedded revolution, and Volvo Mobility Systems, a telematics unit within the Volvo Group [Nasdaq:VOLVY; Other OTC: VOLVF.PK and VOLAFK.PK], today announced that Volvo is using MontaVista® Linux® on its ITS4mobility product, an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) for public transportation organizations that provides traffic control and travel information.

At the core of ITS4mobility is MontaVista Linux Professional Edition, running the on-board vehicle computer subsystem. Major features of ITS4mobility include automatic vehicle location, on-time arrival/departure monitoring, two-way text messaging, automatic next-stop announcement, and destination sign control. The use of GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) for data communication allows traffic controllers to log a vehicle’s status remotely and to download new timetables and software upgrades into specific vehicles.

“ITS4mobility gives passengers, operators and transport authorities a wide range of benefits. It helps cut travel time, improves punctuality and provides tools for improved vehicle management,” said Göran Varosy, marketing director at Volvo Mobility Systems. “We are proud that Volvo and MontaVista, with our combined technologies, can provide the public transportation market with solutions that increase customer satisfaction and ultimately increase profitability. MontaVista Linux played an important role in getting this technological solution to market very quickly.”

“For the multifunctional, networked transportation telematics solutions from Volvo Mobility Systems, the real-time capability and service reliability of MontaVista Linux are key,” said Cees Boshuizen, vice president, EMEA Sales, MontaVista Software. “MontaVista Linux also provides ITS4mobility with an open and flexible architecture that is modular and easily scalable to fit a transportation system’s particular needs.”

Availability and Current Use
ITS4mobility is available globally today and has been deployed in several Nordic cities.

In Tromsö, Norway, the city uses the system to provide travel information in real-time to its passengers, and to monitor and control its city bus operations. The city operates a bus fleet of around 100 buses. The project with Volvo Mobility includes the integration of
17 buses to the AVL/RTPI (Automatic Vehicle Location/Real-time Passenger Information) system delivered by Volvo, and using the commercially available public GPRS network for data communication. Eventually, the whole fleet of 100 city buses will be linked to the system.

In Gothenburg, Sweden, the central unit of ITS4mobility is already today tracking over 450 buses and trams, providing real-time passenger information to traffic controllers, information officers, to passengers at more than 140 at-stop displays, and also via the Internet and WAP. ITS4mobility can use any radio communications protocol, and can be installed for any size of fleet. The on-board units will also be installed shortly on ferries operating in the public transport system of Gothenburg.

About MontaVista Linux Professional Edition
This industry-leading comprehensive embedded operating system (OS) and cross development environment is MontaVista Software’s flagship product. It includes a modern OS featuring real-time functionality, multi-process capabilities and multi-threaded remote debugging, with extensive bundled software components including rich networking.

MontaVista Linux boasts the industry’s most comprehensive embedded development package with broad support for embedded processor architectures, CPU boards and software components. It targets more than 25 processors from nine industry-leading architectures and supports more than 100 boards offering developers great freedom to choose the elements for their development environment, which, in effect, allows them to speed cutting-edge products to market faster and at a lower cost.

Technical Overview – ITS4mobility Onboard Unit

• AIC (vehicle computer, including display)
  OS: MontaVista Linux Professional Edition
  Processor: Motorola MPC823e
• Display 5.5” TFT full color, 320X240
• GPS module
• Long-range data radio module
  GSM (SMS/GPRS), Tetra or private radio
• Short-range data radio module
  WLAN, private radio or inductive loop
• Internal and external vehicle signs

About MontaVista Software
MontaVista Software is a leading global supplier of systems software for intelligent connected devices and associated infrastructure. MontaVista powers the embedded revolution by providing GNU/Linux-based open-source software solutions. Founded in 1999 by real-time operating system (RTOS) pioneer James Ready, MontaVista offers a family of products under the MontaVista Linux umbrella that address broad-based software developer needs encompassing applications ranging from communications infrastructure to consumer electronics. Multiple editions of MontaVista Linux are available including Professional, Consumer Electronics and Carrier Grade, along with complementary technology products providing powerful Java and graphics development capabilities.

Headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley, in Sunnyvale, Calif., MontaVista Software is a privately held company funded by leading investors such as Alloy Ventures, US Venture Partners, RRE Ventures, WR Hambrecht + Co., IBM, Intel Capital, Sony, Panasonic (Matsushita), Toshiba America and Yamaha Corporation. For more information about MontaVista Software, please visit http://www.mvista.com.

About Volvo Mobility Systems
Volvo Mobility Systems (VMS) is a telematics unit within the Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading suppliers of commercial transport solutions. VMS provides transport solutions to cities and transport operators around the world, including transport system design, vehicles, intelligent transport systems (ITS), financing and project management. VMS is based in Goteborg (Gothenburg), Sweden. For more information see http://www.volvo.com/mobility

Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. MontaVista is a registered trademark of MontaVista Software Inc. All other names mentioned are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective companies.

Contacts:

MontaVista Software
Joe Samagond
Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications
MontaVista Software
Phone (408) 328-9234
E-mail: jsamagond@mvista.com

Patricia Colby
PR Strategy and Business Development
Pacifico, Inc.
Phone: (408) 293 8600 x340
E-mail: pcolby@pacifico.com

Volvo Mobility Systems
Göran Varosy
Marketing Director
Volvo Mobility Systems AB
Phone: +46-31-772-4740
Email: goran.varosy@volvo.com