Extended Java portability for ANT's native browser and extended functionality for Tao's multimedia platform.
Cambridge, 19 March 2002: ANT Limited, a leading provider of communications appliance software and services for digital TV and consumer electronics, and Tao Group, a founding member of the Open Content Platform Association (OCPA), have announced the availability of ANT Fresco(TM) browser for the intent(R) platform. In a newly established strategic partnership, ANT and Tao have integrated ANT's browser to Tao's flagship product, which runs on a wide range of devices
including set top boxes (STBs), interactive digital TVs (iDTVs), personal digital assistants (PDAs) and smart phones. This extends the
range of multimedia functionality, applications and content that Tao is able to deliver and makes it easier for ANT's OEM customers to use
Fresco in a Java environment.
"ANT enables a streamlined, customisable native browser which is well suited to applications that don't require the full Java Virtual Machine
to be present," said Graham Nice, Tao's Strategy Director. "Tao strives to provide OEMs with a broad selection of proven technology for
multimedia functionality and content development. With ANT Fresco, we have added a reliable and robust, highly-respected browser to our portfolio of intent-supported applications for our customers."
intent is a binary portable platform, compatible across a wide range of processors and RTOSs. Third-party applications integrated into the
intent infrastructure essentially become plug-in components, capable of being run anywhere that intent is deployed. Fresco has been fully
integrated within Tao's platform, alongside the many other multimedia solutions.
"Our browser is already highly portable due to its unique architecture," said Jon Hoskin, Chief Operating Officer for ANT, "but intent extends
that portability even further. Our browser can now run anywhere that uses the intent platform, including a JVM which means that, in addition to being an alternative to Tao's non-Java customers, ANT can now compete with Java browsers on equal terms, making it even easier for our Java-based customers to use Fresco in their digital TV or other appliance solutions."
ANT Fresco is a highly functional, platform independent browser, specifically designed for digital TV and other consumer electronics
appliances. The core browser code resides within ANT's unique, patent-pending, three-layer software architecture, which consists of a
portability environment to manage the interface to the hardware platform, an applications layer to house the browser core and other applications, and a graphical user interface layer to enable customisation.
Since ANT and Tao have already completed the integration work of Fresco with intent, ANT customers choosing to use Tao's platform will not have to do any additional porting work for Fresco, as intent will slot seamlessly into their platform and RTOS. In addition, ANT customers who also choose intent will now have access to a wider range of ready-ported content, applications and functionality through Tao's other strategic technology partnerships and members of Open Content Platform Association
(OCPA), such as gaming engines, input method technologies, sound engines, databases and file viewers.
Notes to Editors:
About Tao Group Limited
Tao has developed intent(R), a binary portable, language independent, high performance, multimedia platform that is now used by many of the world's leading OEMs in their client products for home and mobile networks. The technology allows these companies to have a single strategy across all of their platforms, irrespective of operating system, hardware and function. intent is now being used in products
including smart mobile appliances and digital television. intent is also a core technology in the Open Contents Platform Association (OCPA;
http://ocpa.jp), launched successfully in Japan this year. Tao's range of Java(TM) products have been designed from their inception to combine the Java language with Tao's multimedia to run real-world content many
times faster than any alternative. The Company was founded in 1992, has offices in the United States, Europe and Japan and counts Mitsubishi, Sony, Motorola, NEC, Sharp and Bowman Capital Partners amongst its
investors. Tao has a growing and high value, global patent portfolio and is the recipient of multiple industry awards, both for its technologies and for the rate of corporate growth. (
http://tao-group.com/)
About ANT Limited
ANT (
http://www.antlimited.com) is a leading provider of communications appliance software and services for OEMs of digital TV and consumer electronics, service providers and silicon vendors. ANT's product portfolio offers a wide range of functionality enabling the delivery of content and services to digital information and entertainment devices in
the home, including STBs, interactive TV, DVD players and web phones. ANT's browser and other application software offer key competitive
advantages to customers and partners: far greater speed to market, portability across any platform and RTOS, reduced engineering costs, and customisable user interface for branding and product differentiation. Some of the world's most innovative appliances are ANT-enabled devices. ANT's current customer and partner base includes IBM Microelectronics,
OpenGlobe, Quadriga, Pace Micro Technology, Philips, Quadriga, Sagem, Tao and Wind River Systems.
Contact ANT:
Melanie Pankhurst
ANT Limited
+44 (0)1223 716411
melanie.pankhurst@antlimited.com
For ANT in the US:
Robin Moore
Moore.com Communications
310.798.7994
rsmoore@verizon.net
Chris Gent / Jenny Orford
Companycare Communications for Tao Group
Tel: +44 (0)118 939 5900
Fax: +44 (0)118 959 9595
E-mail: chrisg@companycare.com / jennyo@companycare.com
Graham Nice
Tao Group
Tel: +44 (0)118 901 2999
Fax: +44 (0)118 901 2963
E-mail: nice@tao-group.com
Fresco and SimplEmail are trademarks of ANT Limited. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective owners.
