Intel Corp is to add the Pentium II processor to its list of embedded systems products next week, and as part of that effort has set up an Applied Computing Platform Program for single board computer suppliers. It says the program formalizes its existing relationship with suppliers, and will enable it to help them with hardware design and offer give and take over future products, chipsets, graphics controllers, BIOS and real-time operating systems. Nine companies are signed up at the moment, but Intel says it expects to have more to announce by next week. The nine are Advantech Inc, Force Computer Inc, Motorola Computer Group, Portwell Inc, RadiSys Corp, Teknor Industrial Computing Inc, Texas Micro Inc, Trenton Technology Inc and Ziatech Corp.
Intel added embedded lifecycle support for the Pentium with MMX last October, launching a Low-Power Pentium Reference Design. It partnered with Bellvue, Washington-based General Software Inc for the BIOS and firmware. In February, it added the Celeron family to the embedded systems range, extending the support to graphics, flash memory, bridge chips and networking components at the same time. The new Pentium II range will include low power and new packaging options, and also a module product combining the processor with NorthBridge chipset and drop-in memory, designed to speed up time-to-market for board vendors.
Participants have to meet manufacturing and quality criteria set by Intel. In return, Intel will carry out joint marketing and development activities. Its key market for embedded systems products are communications industry companies. But at least one of the announced partners looks to be exiting the market in the near future. At the end of last week, Canadian company Teknor announced that it would sell all of the assets of its industrial computers operation to Xtech Embedded Computers Inc for $35.3m, and concentrate instead on the large video screen LED technology it acquired last year from Saco SmartVision Inc of Montreal. Teknor plans to change its name to Saco SmartVision.
