Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 00:38:42 +0000 (GMT) From: Michael DurrantTo: lwn@lwn.net Subject: Rt-Control enables Linux internet appliances October 25, 1999 Rt-Control's uCsimm speeds development of Linux based Internet appliances For Immediate Release: Rt-Control of Toronto announces the release of the uCsimm Embedded Microcontroller Linux platform. The uCsimm, a complete platform enabling implementation of embedded systems running uClinux is now shipping from Rt-Control to OEMs in engineering quantities. Volume shipments will be available in the first quarter of 2000. The uCsimm is a 30 pin SIMM form factor Microcontroller running the uClinux operating system. With the uCsimm engineers can quickly and easily design and prototype connected products economically and in a matter of hours that would otherwise take months and prove cost prohibitive. No other embedded platform combines the set of features available with the uCsimm and its ease of deployment in end user applications. The uCsimm, with on board RS232, Ethernet, LCD controller, SPI serial bus and parallel I/O was designed as a component level solution to enable embedded Linux systems in industrial controls, instrumentation, consumer electronics and other systems that can benefit from Internet connectivity. The uClinux distribution includes everything needed to rapidly develop Linux enabled hardware based on Rt-Control's uCsimm Embedded Linux Platform. About uClinux uClinux (Embedded Microcontroller Linux) is the first Linux derivative targeted to small high volume embedded systems. Supporting the popular Motorola 68k and Coldfire families of microcontroller chips, uClinux lets the embedded systems engineer design a deeply embedded system using the full featured Linux OS. The uClinux OS takes up less than 1Meg of FLASH ROM and less than 1Meg of RAM, no disk or other costly components are required only a bare MC683xx microcontroller and memory (typical of embedded systems). About Rt-Control Inc. Rt-Control Inc. provides commercial support and development solutions for the embedded Linux market. Rt-Control was formed in 1999 to provide commercial support for the uClinux operating system originally ported from Linux2.0 by Kenneth Albanowski and D. Jeff Dionne. Since the inception of the company, Rt-Control has focussed on enabling hardware solutions that utilise uClinux. The shipment of uCsimm marks a milestone in the development of the embedded Linux marketplace. For the first time, a complete solution is available that takes embedded Linux products from concept to deployment for high volume applications with a complete development kit. The official uClinux distribution is available from Rt-Control on CD-ROM for 30.00USD. The uC68EZ328-2E8L16 uCsimm complete embedded Linux on a SIMM module is available from 210.00USD in single piece quantities with OEM quantities available first quarter 2000. Rt-Control provides developer support contracts for development of embedded applications employing uClinux. Since the uCsimm prototype was demonstrated at the July 1999 Comdex show held in Toronto, Rt-Control has been accepting advanced orders. With the shipment of the uCsimm and uClinux CD, Rt-Control Inc. continues to demonstrate leadership and vision within the Embedded Linux Marketplace. "uClinux is setting the standard for small embedded systems with its royalty free TCP/IP stack and a POSIX API. I see the possibilities for embedded systems being greatly expanded by our work. We will see many new classes of devices emerging based on uClinux. The end user will likely not know that these things are running Linux. The Linux OS is a good fit for embedded systems. Now with the uCsimm and uClinux it is finally possible to quickly turn embedded systems using Linux" -- D. Jeff Dionne Rt-Control Inc. URL references * http://www.rt-control.com * http://www.uclinux.org * https://www.uclinux.com/orderdesk * http://lwn.net/1999/0722/linuxcanada/lwn2.html Contact information Rt-Control Inc. 10 Crane Avenue Suite 2 Toronto, Ontario, Canada M9P1T9 fax: (416) 243-1173 email: uclinux@rt-control.com