Press Releases

Omron’s new Japanese input framework software enhances GUI-based development environment with MontaVista Linux

SUNNYVALE, Calif, and TOKYO, Nov. 10, 2003 — MontaVista Software, Inc., the company powering the embedded revolution, and Omron Software Co., Ltd., a provider of Japanese input system software, today announced a new Japanese input system that will make device development and use easier, especially for the consumer electronics devices. This new Japanese input system, MobileWnn IMF for Qt/Embedded (MIMQ), is offered by Omron and is supported on MontaVista® Linux® Professional Edition - a highly scalable, robust embedded operating system.

MIMQ is optimized for consumer electronics devices such as mobile phones, digital video recorders, PDAs and game machines. It allows easy GUI development of Japanese language input, even on devices with limited screen space or limited input interfaces. By providing an integrated GUI development environment that supports the Japanese language, this new software will benefit manufacturers of advanced consumer electronics devices who are seeking high performance and scalable solutions with an open standard operating system – MontaVista Linux.

MIMQ will be featured in the MontaVista Software booth at the Embedded Technology 2003 Conference, November 12-14 in Yokohama, Japan. The MontaVista booth number is B-01.

“Consumer electronics products, such as mobile hand-held devices and home electronics appliances, are becoming more versatile and multi-functional. At the same time, users want products with a user-friendly and easy-to-use interface,” said, Mr. Mitsushige Uotani, executive director of Omron Software, Ltd. “As Linux is increasingly becoming the systems software of choice for consumer electronics in the Japanese market, the combination of Omron’s MIMQ and MontaVista Linux offers Japanese OEMs a powerful solution for quickly and effectively developing cutting edge applications.”

Omron’s Wnn input system is already widely-used on Linux business desktops and in personal computing environments. Since the system was developed for embedded software as “Mobile Wnn” in 1999, it has been deployed in more than 50 devices from 20 manufacturers, spanning a broad array of products from cell phones and the PlayStation2 from Sony, to musical instruments from Yamaha.

“MontaVista has gained strong momentum in the embedded market with our scalable and cost effective solution,” said Sheila Baker, vice president of Marketing, MontaVista Software, Inc. “By continuing our collaboration with leading suppliers of Japanese input systems, like Omron Software, we can provide embedded developers with the means to deliver high performing and sophisticated, and user-friendly applications for their next generation of mobile devices.”

About MontaVista Linux Professional Edition
This industry-leading comprehensive embedded operating system and cross development environment is MontaVista Software’s flagship product, providing a common source and binary platform across a broad range of processor architectures. MontaVista Linux Professional Edition (Pro) includes a modern OS featuring real-time functionality, multi-process capabilities, and multi-threaded remote debugging, with extensive bundled software components including rich networking. Pro includes a rich development environment featuring the latest versions of industry-standard tools, amply supported by a rich complement of deployment components.

MIMQ - MobileWnn IMF for Qt/Embedded
MIMQ is a Japanese input framework running on the Qt/Embedded graphics system. It incorporates the following features:

• Client/Server type Japanese input system simplifies product architecture
• Omron MobileWnnV2 offers
  • Input prediction method handles mix of Kanji, Kana, and Latin text
  • Versatile single and multi-segment conversion
  • Learning function adapts to individual usage patterns
  • Optional dictionaries simplify use and offer after-market opportunities
• GUI-based word registration
• Graphical system set-up
• On-screen “soft” keyboard
• Customizable system (selected functions)

Availability
MIMQ - MobileWnn IMF for Qt/Embedded running on MontaVista Linux is now available from Omron Software, Ltd. MontaVista Linux Professional Edition (Pro) is available from MontaVista Software. Pro is offered as a product subscription, providing customers with the MontaVista Linux kernel, utilities, development tools, software updates, deployment components, access to the MontaVista Zone, comprehensive technical support and hands-on Linux training classes.

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 Omron Software
Omron Software is a leading software technology company and one of the subsidiaries of OMRON Corporation. The company provides engineering of industrial and social automation systems, embedded software for microcomputers, and software products for UNIX™, PC, and embedded systems. OMRON Software embedded software components for network appliances include: Mobile Wnn™, which is the smallest high performance input method system supporting Chinese, Japanese, and Korean; and Jumon™, which is Java™ mobile agent middleware for embedded devices and so on. For more information about Omron Software, please visit http://www.omronsoft.com.

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 owners.

Contacts:

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

Patricia Colby
PR Strategy and Business Development
Pacifico Inc.
Phone (408) 293-8600 ext. 340
E-mail: pcolby@pacifico.com

Omron Software, Ltd.
Takeshi Asano
Network Appliance & Software Business Div.
Phone: +81-44-246-6016
E-mail: t-asano@mx.omronsoft.co.jp