Product category: Embedded Software and Operating Systems
News Release from: Open-Plug | Subject: FlexibleWare
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 17 February 2004

Linux environment for mass-market phones

Open-Plug has opened up mass-market mobile phone development to the Linux community, and will demonstrate a Linux framework based on its FlexibleWare technology next week at the 3GSM congress

The functionalities demonstrated at 3GSM include an SDK, allowing development and simulation of Linux-based applications in a PC environment, an embedded framework, allowing automatic integration and validation on the mobile terminal and a prototype of its update framework allowing users to download/upgrade the Linux-based software components on the mobile terminals.

The initial product offering will be demonstrated on Texas Instruments' leading and widely deployed Calypso chipset platform.

According to Andreas Malzach, VP Sales and Marketing: "Open-Plug's FlexibleWare technology in combination with its Linux plug, opens mass-market chipset platforms to the world's large Linux developer community for the first time.

The offering goes far beyond the common Linux API exposure; most importantly it includes a component-based framework facilitating rapid integration into and validation of the mobile-phone platform.

FlexibleWare also provides great SDK support for the developer community allowing easy application development and simulation for mobile phones and supports remote download onto the phone of critical maintenance and deployment of applications.

The FlexibleWare suite from Open-Plug is a software development platform, consisting of the FlexibleWare tools and the FlexibleWare framework (a small engine running on the phone).

The tool suite includes an SDK for partner networks, which supports proprietary API's as well as open APIs (Linux/Java) targeted at software developers, chipset and handset makers, and network operators.

The toolsuite turns any type of software at object code level into isolated and optimised executable components, which run on top of a small engine integrated on a standard phone's processor.

This not only makes configuration of new handset designs fast, easy and cost-effective, but also allows upgrades to be distributed to groups or individual users in the field without compromising overall software stability.

At the heart of the FlexibleWare framework is the OP-Engine, which controls communications and access rights of the software components, created and integrated with the help of the FlexibleWare toolsuite.

This makes intercompatibility between software components easier to control and allows software components to be stored in a library and easily deployed on a variety of handsets.

Typically, the FlexibleWare Framework occupies less than 40Kbyte of code and has no measurable RAM or MIPS overhead.

A complementary set of modules are also available, such as an accelerator, which dynamically uses fast memory resources for critical components, a multiprocessor module, which allows transparent distribution of component based systems on multiprocessor architectures, as well as a FireWall module, which allows device makers/operators to set access rights to any component of the system.

Visitors to 3GSM will be able to view the FlexibleWare suite based on Texas Instruments' Calypso chipset platform on the TI booth in Hall 2 stand E19.

The product will be deployed shortly afterwards to a selected number of customers and partners.

During the second quarter of 2004 the suite will become generally available.

For software developers, the FlexibleWare SDK enables them to generate components from scratch or to automatically convert existing code into isolated executable software components.

These can be validated and optimised at a component level in the SDK's simulation environment supporting open Linux and Java APIs, as well as the proprietary APIs of major chipset and handset makers.

Handset or chipset developers can drag and drop new phone features from a library of available software components, using the FlexibleWare Console.

A range of complementary features that allow easy system integration, validation and optimisation are made available.

The FlexibleWare Framework can easily coexist with legacy code, standard real time OS, and does not require any FlexibleWare dependent modifications to any legacy code.

The OP-Update environment allows individual software components to be updated partially or entirely, once the phone is in the field.

This can be done over the air, by wire or by addon modules, using SMS, HTTP or any other available transportation layer to the mobile phone.

OP-Update provides operators with a low-investment way to update individual or group phone firmware with complete security.

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