BSQUARE, the company behind the SDIO technologies, is launching its own portable media player (PMP) product initiative. The PMP product is a Microsoft Windows CE 5.0 digital media-management and player software solution that enables OEMs to enter the growing market for PMP players, a new product category that enables consumers to watch movies and video clips, view family photos, and listen to music on a single mobile device.
The company says its first customer is a market-leading Asian OEM, in a deal worth over US$1 million. The company's name was not disclosed.
"Our PMP media-management and player solution is a logical extension of our Reference Design initiative whereby BSQUARE provides pre-engineered hardware and software solutions that our customers can adapt, customize and rapidly take to market," said Pawan Gupta, Vice President of Products, BSQUARE. "We expect to announce several other customers for our PMP software in the coming months. We also anticipate that OEMs developing set-top boxes and converged mobile devices will be interested in our PMP technology to play and manage multimedia content."
BSQUARE is collaborating with Advanced Micro Devices to offer a turnkey PMP reference design. BSQUARE will integrate its PMP software with the AMD Alchemy DBAu1200 development board and customize the user interface and features for each customer.
"BSQUARE and AMD are working together to deliver a well-rounded solution that incorporates low-power, full function and versatile software applications to provide top-quality mobile entertainment," said Erik Salo, marketing director, Microprocessor Solutions Sector, AMD. "With the AMD Alchemy Au1200 processor, consumers can quickly and easily download media and enjoy DVD-quality video on the go. Also, OEMS are able to swiftly create full-featured, innovative PMPs with minimal risk, reduced time to market and costs."
Interested OEMs can preview BSQUARE's PMP platform now. The media-management and player solution running on the AMD Alchemy DBAu1200 development board is targeted to be fully available in the first quarter of 2006.
