Wind River to offer commercial Android Solution

Wind River (NASDAQ: WIND) has announced that the company will offer a commercial software solution based on open source mobile software, Android. The solution will comprise software systems integration services and a compatible commercially supported Android software platform for handset manufacturers and mobile operators planning to develop Android-based devices and services.

This announcement follows the announcement by the Open Handset Alliance to release the Android platform under an open source license. Wind River formally joined the Open Handset Alliance in November 2007 as an Android commercialization partner, and since then has been an active, contributing member to the consortium.

In conjunction with this announcement, Wind River announced that Kyocera Wireless Corp. has selected Wind River to help develop a new product platform incorporating Android. The companies intend for Wind River to provide software systems integration services inclusive of technologies from other Open Handset Alliance members and third-party partners.

Wind River’s software systems integration services include deep professional services offerings for customer-specific, end-to-end Android implementations, including customization, optimization and testing tailored to customer’s devices.  These services for Android are currently being deployed to customers worldwide.

“Wind River is leveraging its deep involvement with the Open Handset Alliance to offer a Wind River supported and maintained Android solution to companies planning to deploy Android,” said Jason Whitmire, general manager of the Mobile segment at Wind River. “This is compelling to manufacturers and operators because it mitigates the cost and risk associated with open source solutions.” 

Wind River's commercial software platform for Android is expected to include the latest open source Android software, Wind River's commercial-grade Linux, including Android- specific Linux patches, and pre-integrated third-party technologies to help commercialize Android. Additionally, the platform is expected to be optimized on leading mobile semiconductor hardware from which manufacturers can quickly build market-differentiated products. During the development of the platform, Wind River will leverage its unique technologies such as its layer-based build system and automated test framework, which will further test and validate the platform, reduce development time and risk, and improve quality.

Earlier this year, Wind River partnered with Texas Instruments, NEC Electronics and STMicroelectronics to demonstrate the Android platform at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Company-wide, Wind River plays leading roles in industry consortia and communities aimed at developing Linux-based open software platforms across a variety of adjacent industries, including: Eclipse, SCOPE-Alliance, The Linux Foundation, LiMo Foundation, OpenSAF and Moblin.org.

Availability

Wind River’s commercially supported Android software platform is expected to be available in the first half of calendar-year 2009.  

Sourced From: Text 100 Public Relations Consultancy