Open Kernel Labs OKL4 3.0 Solution Enables Mobile Device Development From Simple to Smart

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - October 22, 2008) - Open Kernel Labs (OK Labs), a global provider of systems software and virtualization technology for mobile devices and other embedded systems, today announced OKL4 3.0, an embedded hypervisor, and OKL4 Nano. With two compatible configurations, OKL4 3.0 spans the range of requirements seen across the product portfolio of mobile device manufacturers. OKL4 3.0 reduces cost and time-to-market by increasing uniformity of the software architecture and allowing increased software reuse.

Most handset manufacturers have broad product lines that include simple phones for emerging markets, featurephones, business-oriented smartphones, and phones with advanced multimedia support. The use of different processors and OSes across the product line makes it increasingly difficult to reuse software and expertise. With a memory footprint of less than 4kB, OKL4 Nano brings a fully compatible execution environment to classes of mobile devices that do not have the processing resources of a smartphone or featurephone.

Instead of using one execution environment in lower-end handsets and then deploying a separate virtualization solution like OKL4 3.0 in higher-end smartphones, OKL4 users can select the compatible OKL4 Nano configuration with the knowledge that applications written to run on OKL4 Nano can also run in another device on OKL4 3.0 without modification. These OKL4 native applications also gain the benefit of being OS agnostic with respect to application stacks and therefore are reusable alongside Linux in one device and Symbian in another.

"In a highly competitive market, mobile device developers are looking for any way to get more compelling products to market as quickly and inexpensively as possible," said Steve Subar, CEO, OK Labs. "Not all mobile devices require virtualization, but all require an execution environment to manage applications. Only OKL4 offers both."

The full configuration of OKL4 3.0 adds support for flexible security policies, resource allocation, and virtualization. OKL4 3.0's existing Secure HyperCell™ technology combines virtualization support with a protected native execution environment that eliminates the need for a separate RTOS, and subjects communication between subsystems to a mandatory, system-wide security policy. Secure HyperCell technology is delivered in a small software package that meets the resource usage, security and performance requirements of mobile devices.

OKL4 Nano is a very small, very fast kernel and is compatible with OKL4, which adds support for virtualization, isolation and dynamic resource allocation.

OKL4 3.0 is open source and available for download now. Commercial product development and deployment requires a commercial license from OK Labs.

OKL4 SDK

The OKL4 SDK allows a third-party developer to create a new SoC module, independently of the OK Labs-provided module supporting the SoC's processor core. Furthermore, it allows a developer to obtain core kernel binaries and SoC modules from different vendors. This means that third parties can add SoC-specific support for a particular chip from suppliers such as, Broadcom, Freescale, Infineon, NXP, ST, Qualcomm, ST, TI, or any other ARM licensee to the support for a specific ARM core (i.e. ARM 926) that is provided by OKL4 3.0.

The OKL4 SDK also includes functionality that allows developers to easily develop and integrate new applications for OKL4. The OKL4 SDK contains all the header files and libraries that a developer may need when developing new software for use with OKL4. It also includes the tools that a device manufacturer will need to integrate cells from independent sources, without needing to rebuild the distributed software.

Additional Tools

OKL4 3.0 features a memory-usage tool that allows developers to generate a memory map of both physical and virtual memory in order to determine the memory usage of their final image. The tool provides an easy to understand output from the system configuration process, allowing the developer to quickly confirm that the system has been configured correctly with respect to memory usage.

Open Kernel Labs

Open Kernel Labs is the leading supplier of open source embedded hypervisor and virtualization technology to developers of embedded designs for mobile handsets and other consumer electronics applications. Backed by the largest, independent team of microkernel developers, OK Labs delivers OKL4, an embedded hypervisor, which offers the highest performance combined with strong protection and security features. OKL4 provides developers with a robust, open source platform for building secure, differentiated embedded applications. For more information about OK Labs and its products visit www.ok-labs.com. OK Labs is a spin out from NICTA, Australia's preeminent Center of Excellence for information and communications technology, http://nicta.com.au/.

For information on the OK Community, please visit the Community Portal at www.ok-labs.com/community/community-portal. Participants can join the Developer's Mailing List at http://www.ok-labs.com/community/mailing-list-signup.

Open Kernel Labs, OK Labs and Secure HyperCell are trademarks or registered trademarks of Open Kernel Labs or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Open Kernel Labs, OK Labs and Secure HyperCell are trademarks or registered trademarks of Open Kernel Labs or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Contact Information: CONTACT: Chris Walker Connect Public Relations (801) 373-7888 Marti Konstant Open Kernel Labs (312) 933-0101