Insyde Technology: News: Press Releases: Insyde Software Offers Replacement for Desktop PC BIOS Technology

InsydeH2O™ Challenges Legacy BIOS Solutions with a Cross-Platform Firmware Environment and Lower System Development Costs for PC Makers

INTEL DEVELOPER FORUM, SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., February 17, 2004 (Booth # 745) - Insyde Software, a leading global provider of system software, BIOS, and engineering services, today announced its entry into the desktop BIOS market with its InsydeH2O™ "Hardware-2-Operating System" firmware product line. Originally launched at the Intel Developer Forum, Fall 2003 for Insyde Software's traditional mobile PC maker customers, this announcement marks the company's entrance into the desktop PC BIOS arena, replacing 20-year-old legacy BIOS technology with a more efficient, modern solution.

InsydeH2O Desktop Edition will be on display in Insyde Software's booth at the IDF running on a currently available desktop PC from a major OEM and on an Intel-based "Grantsdale" reference board. Implementing the Intel Platform Innovation Framework for EFI, InsydeH2O Desktop Edition now supports the latest Intel® Pentium® 4 processors, formerly code named "Prescott," introduced earlier this month, along with all of the commonly used current and upcoming chipsets from Intel Corporation. InsydeH2O was the BIOS solution used in the first EFI-based desktop PC in the market, which started shipping in the 4th quarter last year. Insyde expects that industry acceptance of EFI will result in InsydeH2O shipping on numerous desktop and mobile systems later this year.

"We are pleased that Insyde is shipping Framework-based solutions for desktop PCs," said Mike Richmond, Manager of Intel's Platform Software team. "2004 is the right time for desktop PC makers to begin developing their first platforms using the Framework. InsydeH2O begins the transition away from the 23-year old legacy BIOS."

InsydeH2O Desktop Edition provides OEM and ODM computer makers the following key features and benefits over traditional Legacy BIOS solutions:

"Our entry into the desktop firmware market with InsydeH2O signals a new era in our company's history," said C.T. Wang, president of Insyde Software. "By building on the Intel® Platform Innovation Framework for EFI, we are now able to spread our investment and technology foundation across multiple PC platforms. In the process, dramatically expand our current market for PC ODMs, OEMs and firmware design-wins."

The product is currently available for PC OEMs and ODMs to evaluate and customize for specific desktop motherboards and systems. Royalty pricing for InsydeH2O Desktop Edition is based on annual volume commitment. Customers have the option of licensing the source code and development tools.

Also at IDF Spring 2004, in a separate announcement today, Insyde Software launched a new product dubbed "InsydeAxS™" aimed at allowing notebook PC makers to offer closed-lid instant access to email, appointments, contacts and other information through a secondary display integrated into the outside lid of next-generation notebook PCs based on Intel® Centrino mobile technology (code-named "Sonoma").

Insyde Software is a leading global provider of BIOS, firmware and consulting services for companies in the embedded computing, notebook and semiconductor industries. Founded in 1998, the company is publicly held and headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan with offices in Portland, OR and Seoul, Korea and is represented with sales, engineering and support partners in China, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and the UK. Insyde Software customers include Acer, Compal, Fujitsu, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Inventec, NEC, Nokia, Quanta, Sony, Toshiba, ViewSonic and Wyse.

CInsyde, InsydeAxS and InsydeH2O are trademarks of Insyde Software. Intel, Pentium and Centrino are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Other company and product names mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.