MUNICH (02/28/2000) - Infomatec AG, an Augsburg, Germany-based software vendor, today said it has entered into a global partnership with Transmeta Corp., the creator of the Crusoe chip line designed for mobile computing, and Crosstainment AG, a German developer of multimedia hardware products.
The three companies plan to develop reference models for Internet-capable appliances. In particular, the products will draw on Infomatec's Java Network Technology (JNT), an operating system designed for Internet appliances, and Transmeta's Crusoe chips, Infomatec said in a statement. A reference model is a specification for developing a new product that can be produced by manufacturers.
Officials at Infomatec could not immediately be reached to elaborate on the agreement.
Infomatec's Java Network Technology is a Linux-based software designed to make appliances Internet-capable, according to information on Infomatec's Web site.
It is used, for example, in set-top boxes that enable Internet surfing via television, as well as in Webpads, a class of wireless Net devices that are about the size of a small writing pad.
Santa Clara, California-based Transmeta's recently-launched line of chips is designed especially for use in notebooks and other wireless Internet appliances. [See "UPDATE2: Transmeta Unveils Crusoe Chip," Jan. 19.] Transmeta is promising that the chip will deliver wireless devices with more computing power and lower battery demands than devices featuring traditional processors designed for PCs.
Infomatec, in Augsburg, Germany, can be reached at +49-821-7491-000 or at http://www.infomatec.de. Transmeta, in Santa Clara, California, can be reached at +1-408-919-3000, or on the Web at http://www.transmeta.com/.