From: RSWoodburn@aol.com
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 00:23:47 EST
Subject: MontaVista and ITT soldiers' radio
To: lwn@lwn.net

MontaVista and ITT Industries Announce Cooperation on New Wireless 
Communications Project

Hard Hat Linux a key to success of Next Generation
Small Unit Operations Radio

SUNNYVALE, Calif. and WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., - March 12, 2001 - MontaVista 
Software, Inc., developer of the Hard Hat(TM) Linux(R) operating system for 
embedded applications, and ITT Industries, Inc. (NYSE: ITT) today announced 
that they are working together to further enhance the capabilities and 
effectiveness of a handheld radio communications system for soldiers.  The 
ultra-capable communications system relies on Hard Hat Linux to support 
multiple StrongARM processors.

An ITT led team of industry leaders in developing military technology is 
working on a contract for DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) 
to build a 'soldiers' radio.  The successful culmination of the team's 
efforts brings the embedded Linux expertise of MontaVista together with ITT 
Industries' defense communications devices.   

The beta version of the radio unit is expected later this year.  This radio 
is designed to function in unfriendly environments such as jungles and cities 
where wireless communications frequently have reliability problems.  The 
technology being developed by the ITT team will be able to adapt to differing 
environments to ensure constant connectivity.

"MontaVista has worked with ITT to pioneer the port of Linux to the StrongARM 
processor.  No other vendor was willing to provide a StrongARM port, but 
working with MontaVista we had Hard Hat Linux up and running on our processor 
in the first week," said John Kirkwood, company spokesman at ITT Industries 
Aerospace, Communications Division.  "By leveraging MontaVista embedded Linux 
expertise our team was able to concentrate on our core technology competence, 
and bring this product to market that much sooner."

"By utilizing open source, 100% pure Linux components, MontaVista was able to 
provide StrongARM support to ITT in record time," commented Jim Ready, CEO of 
MontaVista Software, Inc.  "The ITT communications project proves once again 
that an open source development and business model delivers COTS 
(Commercial-Off-The-Shelf) solutions earlier and under budget."

Hard Hat Linux - A Pure Play
Hard Hat Linux, from MontaVista, is based entirely on the standard Linux 
kernel and open-source components.  It is royalty-free and optimized for 
embedded applications, including communications infrastructure and Internet 
appliances.  MontaVista Software supports pervasive-computing development 
with its Hard Hat Linux Cross Development Kit, and the Hard Hat Linux kernel 
and embedded operating system.  At Comdex 2000, Hard Hat Linux received Linux 
Journal and LINUX Business Expo's Penguin Playoff Award for Best Embedded 
Solution, chosen from a field of more than 60 exhibitors at the Linux 
Business Expo in Las Vegas.
                                            
About ITT Industries, Inc.
ITT Industries, Inc. (www.itt.com) supplies advanced technology products and 
services in key markets including: electronic interconnects and switches; 
defense communications, opto-electronics, information technology and 
services; fluid and water management and specialty products. Headquartered in 
White Plaines, New York, the company generated $4.8 billion in 2000 sales, 
and employs approximately 38,000 people around the world.  In addition to the 
New York Stock Exchange, ITT Industries is traded on the Midwest, Pacific, 
London, Paris and Frankfurt exchanges.

About MontaVista Software, Inc.
MontaVista Software Inc. is a leading provider of open-source software 
solutions for pervasive computing environments.  Founded in 1999 by real-time 
operating system pioneer James Ready, MontaVista's principal offering is the 
Linux operating system tailored for embedded software applications.  
MontaVista products include Hard Hat Linux, a standard off-the-shelf binary 
distribution of Linux for x86/IA-32, PowerPC, StrongArm, MIPS and other 
microprocessor architectures.  Hard Hat Linux offers StrongARM, MIPS and 
other microprocessor architectures.  Hard Hat Linux offers developers a 
family of open source solutions for embedded design, with targeted offerings 
for applications ranging from communications infrastructure to thin-client 
and edge applications.  

Headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley in Sunnyvale, California, 
MontaVista Software is a privately-held company funded by leading investors 
such as Alloy Ventures, US Venture Partners, RRE Ventures, WR Hambrecht + Co, 
and Intel Capital.  For more information about MontaVista, please visit 
http://mvista.com or call (408) 328-9200.

Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.  Hard Hat is a trademark 
of MontaVista Software Inc.  Intel and Pentium registered trademarks of Intel 
Corporation.  StrongARM is a registered trademark of ARM Limited PowerPC is a 
registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.  All 
other names mentioned are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks 
of their respective companies.

Contacts:               
 ITT Aerospace/Communications       
John Kirkwood   
(219) 451-6384      

MontaVista Software Inc.
Joe Samagond
(408)328-9234