From: Jennifer Finlinson 
Subject: Lineo Acquires Rt-Control and Begins Shipping Embedix Browser
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 14:17:00
Organization: Lineo, Inc.
To: lwn@lwn.net


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


LINEO ACQUIRES RT-CONTROL 

Lineo and Rt-Control Combine to Provide Support for Deeply Embedded
Microcontrollers


HANNOVER, GERMANY / CEBIT - Feb 23, 2000 - Lineo, Inc., the leading
developer of embedded Linux system software, today announced that it
reached an agreement to acquire Rt-Control Inc., founders and maintainers
of the popular uClinux operating system, a version of Linux for
microcontrollers. The combination of the two companies provides developers
a broader spectrum of embedded Linux solutions for both low-end and
high-end embedded devices at a significantly lower cost.

This acquisition adds support for microcontrollers to Lineo Embedix,
Lineo's line of embedded Linux system software. Lineo anticipates that
this will increase demand for Linux in an area historically believed to
be unsupportable by Linux.

"The combination of the technologies from Lineo and Rt-Control opens up
the ability for developers to put Linux on devices that would otherwise
be cost prohibitive," said Bryan Sparks, CEO of Lineo, Inc. "As a result,
consumers will see Linux in many more devices including cell phones and
automobiles."


Rt-Control is the leading provider of uClinux products and services. The
uClinux operating system is targeted at very small, inexpensive devices
that are sold in high volumes, utilizing microcontrollers that are smaller
than those typically found in embedded Linux devices would run on, such
as digital cameras, cell phones, low-end PDAs and security systems. By
including the uClinux functionality to the Lineo distribution, the end
user will have access to a larger spectrum of Internet-connected devices
at a significantly lower cost. Currently, Rt-Control delivers uClinux
to the following microprocessor families: Motorola 68000, Motorola
ColdFire, ARM7, Axis ETRAX and Intel i960. The uClinux operating system was
first targeted and successfully booted on the 3Com PalmPilot, which is
based on a Motorola chip.

Michael Durrant, CEO of Rt-Control Inc, said, "The synergy created by
this acquisition ensures that Linux can be used in devices where it might
previously have been too costly. This will accelerate Linux in becoming
the operating system of choice for embedded device developers."

Rt-Control provides support for design engineering of hardware and
software, prototype design and manufacturing services, Linux and uClinux OS
porting, and compiler and library development and support.

Rt-Control is the second company to be purchased by Lineo. Earlier this
month, Lineo and Zentropix announced a merger, providing the Lineo Embedix
product family with hard real-time solutions.

Rt-Control, based in Toronto, Canada has 8 employees. Lineo plans to leave
this operation and its employees intact and augment the site with
additional resources as a Lineo development and sales center. Lineo now has
offices in Utah, Washington, Virginia, Taiwan, the UK and Canada.

About Lineo, Inc.
Lineo, Inc., the leading developer of embedded Linux system software,
develops, markets and sells embedded Linux system software and applications 
that provide OEMs and consumers with simple, low-cost software for
interacting with the Internet via embedded devices. Lineo owns the
Embedix product family including Embedix Linux, Embedix SDK and Embedix
Browser. Lineo also owns DR DOS, a component-based embedded OS, and other
technologies designed to improve connectivity while reducing system
requirements and per-unit costs. Visit Lineo, Inc. at www.lineo.com. For
more information, contact Lineo, Inc. via e-mail: info@lineo.com or
telephone: (801) 426-5001.

About Rt-Control Inc.
Rt-Control Inc. is the leading provider of uClinux products and services,
providing embedded hardware and software solutions for the commercial and
consumer electronics industries. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada,
Rt-Control develops, markets and sells the uClinux embedded microcontroller 
Linux operating system, services and products .  Rt-Control provides
hardware and software engineering services. Information on the uClinux
embedded microcontroller Linux is available at www.uClinux.com.  Visit 
Rt-Control Inc. at www.rt-control.com.

###

Lineo and Embedix are trademarks of Lineo, Inc. Linux is a registered
trademark owned by Linus Torvalds. All other products, services, companies
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