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QNX and Kontron collaborate on first BIOS-less instant-on platform for Intel® Atom™ processors

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Eching, Germany, November 28, 2008 – QNX Software Systems and Kontron have announced that the Kontron nanoETXexpress-SP Computer-on-Module is the first commercial embedded platform to support QNX’s innovative fastboot technology for Intel® Atom™ processors.

Designed to enable boot times that are measured in milliseconds, QNX fastboot technology is an advanced feature of the QNX Neutrino RTOS. It eliminates the need for a BIOS on x86 platforms, including those that support Intel® Atom™ processors, thereby reducing hardware costs and dramatically improving instant-on performance. Systems designers can use QNX fastboot technology to improve startup times for a wide variety of automotive, medical, industrial, military, and consumer products.

Measuring just 55 mm x 84 mm, the credit card sized Kontron nanoETXexpress-SP Computer-on-Module is compatible with the PICMG COM Express™ standard, pin-out Type 1. It is based on the highly efficient Intel® Atom™ Z5xx processor series and is a perfect fit for low-power mobile applications that require excellent processor performance, high-definition graphics, PCI Express, and Serial ATA, combined with longer battery life. With only one-tenth of the thermal design power and one-seventh the size of ULV processors of identical performance, the Kontron nanoETXexpress-SP COM offers an unprecedented performance per watt for x86-based ultra-mobile designs.

“In many of our target markets, end-users expect to use a device almost immediately after switching it on. A delay of even a few seconds is unacceptable,” said Kroy Zeviar, business alliance manager at QNX Software Systems. “By using QNX fastboot technology and the Kontron nanoETXexpress-SP module, systems designers can achieve instant-on functionality while taking advantage of the x86 compatibility and high performance per watt of Intel® Atom™ processors.”

“Especially in portable applications, fastboot technology allows designers to extend battery life and overall system usability,” said Matthias Huber, general manager of Kontron’s Embedded Modules Division. “Instead of using either the slow suspend-to-disk or the power-consuming standby states, the device can return from a full-off state without forcing the user to wait.”

Availability
The Kontron nanoETXexpress-SP Computer-on-Module is available now. QNX fastboot support for the module will be available in October 2008.

More information on nanoETXexpress-SP
http://www.kontron.com/nanoETXexpress-SP
More information on COM Express™
http://www.kontron.com/products/computeronmodules/com+express/

More information on QNX support for Intel® Atom™ processors:
http://www.qnx.com/download/feature.html?programid=18173

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