News
Issue #2002 - 08 (February 2002)
(Updated Feb. 27, 2002)

APPLICATIONS

Metrowerks to Provide Family of Development Tools for ARM Technology Based Wireless Devices

AUSTIN, Texas - February 26, 2002 - Metrowerks, a leading provider of development tools and services for the wireless market, today announced plans to deliver a comprehensive portfolio of development tools for ARM(r) processors used in wireless devices such as 2.5G and 3G mobile phones as well as most handheld computers.

In March, Metrowerks will begin releasing CodeWarrior(tm) software and hardware tools that address the entire spectrum of pre- to post-platform development for ARM devices- from board bring-up, to operating system development, to application development. The tools will allow developers to create a range of applications for 2.5G and 3G enabled technologies, including Motorola's ARM based DragonBall(tm) MX1 microprocessor and i.250 and i.300 Innovative Convergence(tm) platforms.

"By delivering embedded development tools for ARM processors, Metrowerks has put itself into the unique position of being able to attract a very broad set of wireless developers," said Will Strauss, president of Forward Concepts, an electronics market research firm in Tempe, Ariz. "Metrowerks
already partners with several leading platform vendors to provide application development tools for wireless devices, and now they can do the same for embedded systems developers targeting the ARM platform."

Multi-Core Development Tools Expertise
Metrowerks was one of the first companies to ship multi-core development tools when it released CodeWarrior for PlayStation2, Version 2.5 in January 2001. Metrowerks will leverage that expertise to support wireless platforms targeting ARM based processors, such as Motorola's DragonBall MX1, and i.250 and i.300 chipsets. Using a single development toolset, developers will be able to create, test, debug and compile applications for a wide range of ARM processors. This feature makes CodeWarrior Development Tools for ARM Embedded Systems one of the most advanced development solutions on the
market.

"No platform can be successful without a strong base of developers," said Pete Shineyda, corporate vice president and general manager of Motorola's Wireless and Broadband Systems Group. "Metrowerks will help enable the growth of our next generation ARM based wireless platforms by offering a broad range of tools that accelerate and simplify the development of compelling content and applications."

The DragonBall MX1 is used in next-generation handheld computing devices, including PDAs based on the Palm OS(tm) platform, 2.5G and 3G wirelessly connected mobile products, smart phones, advanced information appliances, and Web browsers and tablets. According to research firm IDC, Motorola's
DragonBall processor is found in more than 75 percent of the world's PDAs, including those based on the Palm OS platform. Meanwhile, Metrowerks owns 80 percent of the market for Palm OS tools, according to Gartner Group, making it the leading commercial tools provider for the DragonBall platform.

The i.250 and i.300 Innovative Convergence(tm) platforms from Motorola combine the power of the MX1 processor with a DSP processor and a GPRS/GSM radio providing an ideal solution for device manufacturers.

ARM Development Tools Roadmap
In March, Metrowerks is scheduled to ship CodeWarrior Development Tools for ARM Embedded Systems, Version 1.0 This product includes the popular CodeWarrior Integrated Development Environment (IDE), with integrated code generation tools and libraries from ARM, the powerful CodeWarrior debugger, and ARM's ARMulator tool as an option. The product supports ARM Remote
Debug Interface (RDI) version 1.5 compliant connections. CodeWarrior Development Tools for ARM Embedded Systems is designed to increase developer productivity with a debugger that is seamlessly integrated into the development environment. The debugger includes an advanced GUI with windows
that allow viewing of peripheral registers, making the edit/browse/debug cycle much more efficient. The CodeWarrior IDE is also included with the standard ARM Developer Suite (ADS) version 1.2 from ARM.

In the second quarter of this year, Metrowerks plans to add Embedded Trace support to its ARM tools, and plans to deliver ARM tools that will allow developers to create applications for embedded Linux targets.

In the second half of 2002, Metrowerks plans to add to the solution its own CodeWarrior compiler for ARM processors, a Virtio Virtual Platform(tm) simulation for ARM processors, as well as the CodeWarrior Host-Target Interface (HTI). The CodeWarrior compiler for ARM processors will provide world-class support for the standard ARM architecture and will be optimized for all ARM based processors, such as those from Intel(r) (XScale(tm)), Texas Instruments (OMAP(tm)), and Motorola (DragonBall MX1, i.250 and
i.300). In addition, the CodeWarrior compiler for ARM processors will provide robust C++ support, which will enhance the capabilities for embedded developers creating powerful object oriented software for ARM processors.

"Our ARM development tools roadmap embodies our larger wireless strategy," said John Smolucha, vice president of marketing, Metrowerks. "That is, to deliver tools that span the full development cycle, while leveraging strategic partnerships with major handset manufacturers, to help our customers create the content and applications that bring the connected world to life."

Additional features planned in forthcoming versions of CodeWarrior Development Tools for ARM Embedded Systems include enhanced support for other ARM processors, an enhanced debugger, an improved IDE, and additional libraries.

Metrowerks also plans to introduce a family of reference designs for the ARM platform that allow developers to evaluate the processor and the development tools, and that include documentation to build their own target platforms. Reference designs are available for the DragonBall MX1 and i.250 platforms
today, and will be available for the i.300 platform when it becomes available.

Industry-Leading Wireless Tools
CodeWarrior Development Tools for ARM Embedded Systems are complemented with a leading family of wireless products that includes: CodeWarrior tools for Symbian OS(tm), the preferred tool for the Symbian OS; CodeWarrior for Java(tm), the first development toolset to comprehensively support Java 2
Micro Edition (J2ME(tm)) and PersonalJava(tm) technologies; CodeWarrior Development Tools for Palm OS, the de facto standard for Palm OS development; CodeWarrior tools for Java Card(tm) technology; and CodeWarrior tools for the Linux operating system, the industry's best-selling toolset for Linux. 

About Metrowerks
Metrowerks creates CodeWarrior software and hardware products and services for developers, with a particular focus on the following industries: consumer electronics; transportation; wireless; and networking and communications. 

For more information: http://www.metrowerks.com/

Mobileinfo Comments & Advisory: Metrowerks is a serious platform to be evaluated by ARM platform  application developers.

Note: This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Readers should take appropriate caution in developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology architectures.  All trademarks used in this summary are the property of their respective owners.