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2008.08.04

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ACCESS Announces NetFront™Browser Widgets on ACCESS Linux Platform™, Support for Mobile Internet Devices

  • LinuxWorld Demos to Showcase End-to-End Convergence Solutions
  • New Update to ACCESS Linux Platform SDK Announced

LINUXWORLD CONFERENCE & EXPO, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF., – August 4, 2008 – ACCESS CO., LTD., a global provider of advanced software technologies to the mobile and beyond-PC markets, today announced it is extending the functionality of ACCESS Linux Platform with the addition of NetFront Browser Widgets for mobile handsets and consumer electronics, and support for Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs). With these new capabilities, businesses can quickly implement a wide range of widget services and deploy products in a new category of Internet-savvy mobile devices, based on ACCESS Linux Platform.

NetFront Browser Widgets are based on ACCESS’ acclaimed NetFront technology, one of the most widely-used mobile software solutions on the market today, with more than 590 million deployments worldwide. NetFront Browser Widget technology enables widgets for mobile handsets and consumer electronics to be created on the basis of open Web technology. It provides widget players, development tools, and widget content together in one package for operators and device manufacturers. This latest Widget offering follows the company’s recent announcement of a NetFront Browser Widgets community site (http://www.access.co.jp/nfbwc/), where users can download and try widgets for Windows Mobile devices for free.

ACCESS will be supporting the growth of the Mobile Internet Device (MID) market with the capability of running ACCESS Linux Platform on the emerging MID format, giving MID manufacturers the same complete, flexible, commercial-grade, Linux mobile platform available for mobile handsets to access a wide range of Internet and Web 2.0 services. The flexibility of ACCESS Linux Platform will enable licensees to create differentiated experiences, including UI innovations and support for larger displays.

“Mobile Internet Devices will allow people to browse the web better than they can on today’s smartphones,” said Philip Solis, principal analyst at ABI Research. “Some of these devices will have support for full cellular voice and, in some cases, will replace handsets. This market will begin later this year and grow to about 90 million devices in 2012.”

ACCESS will be demonstrating ACCESS Linux Platform for MIDs running on Texas Instruments Zoom Mobile Development Kit. ACCESS Linux Platform for MIDs is available to licensees immediately.

“The ACCESS Linux Platform is well suited for the flexibility and customizability required to deliver new product concepts in the emerging MID category,” said Seshu Madhavapeddy, general manager Mobile Internet Device business, Texas Instruments. “By working with ACCESS to integrate OMAP platform-based hardware and software, we can provide an integrated solution for our customers to help speed time to market and deliver no-compromise web browsing and an enhanced user experience.”

Mobile Linux Industry Trends for the Open Internet Generation
At the Mobile Linux and the Open Internet Generation conference session, Didier Diaz, senior vice president, Product Strategy Management for ACCESS, and Steve Glasgow, vice president, Marketing Operations, Orange, one of the world’s leading communication service providers, will discuss the industry trends and innovations in software and services that will service the next billion users of the Open Internet Generation. The session is scheduled for Wednesday, August 6, from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.

“Orange and ACCESS share a common vision for a truly open mobile community which delivers richer mobile services, more affordable devices and a better user experience,” said Yves Maitre, Senior Vice President, Group Devices at Orange. “We continue to work together in the context of LiMo, to create a standard Linux-based mobile platform that will benefit the entire industry. ACCESS is a key partner within the Orange Signature Accelerator Program, which provides a great user experience through the delivery of embedded, Orange-customized applications.”

Update to ACCESS Linux Platform SDK released
As customer momentum for ACCESS Linux Platform grows, ACCESS is releasing SDK 2.4 Update 1 for ACCESS Linux Platform. The new features include support for touch user interface; improved audio and video support; updated ALP-Glade (user interface designer) to support new ACCESS Linux Platform widget components; and added support for the SDK to run on the latest Ubuntu 8.04 release, in addition to the earlier version 7.10. The update will be available for download from the ACCESS Developer Network (ADN) website at www.accessdevnet.com later this month.

ACCESS at LinuxWorld
ACCESS will demonstrate both new technologies at its booth (Moscone Center Expo Hall – #802) and also feature Open Internet and Open Platform product demonstrations, including ACCESS NetFront Browser Widgets for mobile devices running on ACCESS Linux Platform; ACCESS Linux Platform for MIDs on Texas Instruments Zoom Mobile Development Kit; NetFront Living Connect–ACCESS’ DLNA solution for multimedia home networks; and the NetFront Browser Widgets community site.

ACCESS Developer Day
ACCESS will be conducting an ACCESS Developer Day on Tuesday, August 5, to educate LinuxWorld attendees on how to build applications for the ACCESS Linux Platform using open source tools including Eclipse IDE and Glade UI designer. These hands-on sessions will prepare attendees to take advantage of platform features and mobile market opportunities.

About ACCESS
ACCESS CO., LTD. is a global company providing leading technology, software products and platforms for Web browsing, mobile phones, wireless handhelds, and other networked devices. ACCESS’ product portfolio, including its NetFront Browser, Garnet OS (formerly Palm OS®) and ACCESS Linux Platform, provides customers with solutions that enable faster time to market, flexibility and customizability. The company, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, operates subsidiaries and affiliates within Asia, Europe and the United States. ACCESS is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mother’s Index under the number 4813. For more information about ACCESS, please visit www.access-company.com.

© 2008 ACCESS CO., LTD. All rights reserved.
ACCESS, NetFront, Garnet and ACCESS Linux Platform are trademarks or registered trademarks of ACCESS CO., LTD. in the United States, Japan and other countries. The registered trademark Linux® is used pursuant to a sublicense from LMI, the exclusive licensee of Linus Torvalds, owner of the mark on a world-wide basis. Palm OS is a trademark owned by Palm Trademark Holding Company and is licensed exclusively to ACCESS Systems Americas, Inc. All other trademarks and logos are the property of their respective owners.