Subject: Press Release.
To: None <port-arm32@NetBSD.ORG>
From: Paul Wain <PWAIN@nc.com>
List: port-arm32
Date: 03/23/1997 22:11:00
All,
Appologies if the text formatting of this is other than perfect but
here's at least part of the story that was floating around last week
about NCs and Digiatal and SA's. This has been cleared for the list
by Randy Brasche of NC Inc., but to paraphrase Randy, this is just
announcing the cooperative venture and not what OS'es etc. will be
on the platform. Information on this will follow later, and this is
being posted to this list in response to the questions of last week
about whether Digital are producing an NC or not.
Paul
----
pwain@nc.com
======
Digital Equipment Corporation Network Computer, Inc.
Tom Madden Randy Brasche
508.493.9437 415.631.4650
maddent@mail.dec.com rbrasche@nc.com
DIGITAL AND NCI ANNOUNCE REFERENCE DESIGN FOR
INDUSTRY'S MOST POWERFUL NETWORK COMPUTER
Digital's StrongARM Microprocessor With NCI's NC Access Defines
High-Performance Internet Appliances
MAYNARD, Mass., March 24, 1997 ? Digital Equipment Corporation and
Network
Computer Inc., a subsidiary of Oracle Corporation, today announced the
DIGITAL
Network Appliance Reference Design. Based on Digital's powerful
StrongARM
microprocessor, the reference design is aimed at creating a standard for
the
most powerful, low-cost network computing platform. The companies
believe
integration of NC Access(TM), NCI's comprehensive network computing
software
environment, with this new design will help shape the direction of the
emerging network computing market.
The DIGITAL Network Appliance Reference Design will guide manufacturers
in
building high performance, low-cost appliances that access the World
Wide Web,
yet still interoperate with existing systems. The reference design is
flexible and will support multiple software environments. Documentation
for
the design will be available free to all manufacturers later this month.
Reference unit samples will be available in April with significant
quantities
later this spring.
Funai Electric Company Ltd., headquartered in Osaka, Japan, and Aranex,
Inc.,
of Bedford, Mass., have committed to build network computing devices in
accordance with the DIGITAL Network Appliance Reference Design.
"Low cost and high performance are important to our customers in their
deployment of Network Computers throughout their organizations," said
Michael
Chatterton, vice president of marketing for Aranex, manufacturers of the
first
Network Computer for business users, the Internet Client Station (ICS).
"Integrating the unique high-speed, extremely low power consumption
technology
that Digital has incorporated into the StrongARM CPU with our ICS allows
us to
fulfill these customer requirements."
Springboard for Manufacturers
"We believe this powerful combination of Digital/NCI technologies will
become
the springboard for leading manufacturers to produce cost-effective,
easily
supported network clients," said Robert Supnik, Digital vice president
of
Research and Development. "This reference design will enable Digital to
leverage its expertise in microprocessors, Alpha servers, networking,
and
systems integration services. Digital will offer customers complete
solutions
for implementing, managing, and supporting network computing
environments," he
added.
NCI's NC ACCESS
NC Access is the enabling software inside the network computer. It
includes a
comprehensive suite of applications that provide access to the Web,
electronic
mail, scheduling, news services and multimedia capabilities. Easy to
use like
a television or telephone, NC Access requires no installation or
administration.
"We're pleased to be working with Digital to provide a powerful
framework for
manufacturers to build network computers," said Jerry Baker, president
of NCI.
"The combination of NCI's NC Access and the DIGITAL Network Appliance
Reference Design will result in devices that are both easy to use, and
affordable for homes, schools and corporations."
Peter Kastner, an industry analyst with Aberdeen Group, said, "The
reference
platform answers four market concerns about network computers: price,
performance, power, and productivity. The synergy of Digital's
StrongARM
(microprocessor) and NCI's NC system software will be attractive to the
many
organizations now evaluating network computing."
StrongARM Microprocessor
Digital's StrongARM processor has established new standards for high
speed,
minimum power consumption, and low price. StrongARM is capable of
delivering
the graphics and multimedia performance users want from an Internet
access
device, while meeting user requirements for power and cost. To date,
five
companies ? Wyse Technology, Inc., Boundless Technologies, Inc., LG
Electronics Ltd., Acorn Computer Group PLC, and AlphaVision Ltd. ? have
announced Internet/intranet appliances based on the StrongARM
microprocessor.
Digital Equipment Corporation is a world leader in open client/server
solutions from personal computing to integrated worldwide information
systems.
Digital's scalable Alpha and Intel platforms, storage, networking,
software
and services, together with industry-focused solutions from business
partners,
help organizations compete and win in today's global marketplace. For
more
information about Digital Equipment, visit http://www.digital.com For
more
information about StrongARM and the DIGITAL Network Appliance Reference
Design, visit Digital Semiconductor's site at
http://www.digital.com/semiconductor
NCI, a wholly owned subsidiary of Oracle Corp., develops, licenses and
markets
all software, technology and support services for the NC including NC
Access,
NC Server and NC Card. With strategic partners worldwide, NCI's mission
is to
bring network computing to the corporate, consumer and educational
marketplaces. NCI's World Wide Web address is http://www.nc.com. For
more
information about NCI, please call 415/631-4600.
####
CORP/97/566
Note to Editors:
Digital and the Digital logo are trademarks of Digital Equipment
Corporation.
NC Access is a trademark of Network Computer Inc.
Oracle, NC, and Network Computer are registered trademarks of Oracle
Corporation.
StrongARM is a trademark of Advanced RISC Machines Ltd.