SAN FRANCISCO - Device software optimization provider Wind River Systems Inc. has introduced a Linux device software platform for consumer devices.

According to Wind River (Alameda, Calif.) the platform is the industry's first true commercial-grade Linux product line and scales to support a full range of device requirements from the smallest handhelds to the most robust network equipment.

Wind River said the platform offers device manufacturers the flexibility to develop innovative, highly differentiated product offerings with complete assurance from a fully tested and validated Linux 2.6 implementation, a cutting-edge Eclipse-based development suite and global support.

In a statement issued by Wind River Wednesday (Oct. 5), Chris Lanfear, director of the embedded systems software practice at Venture Development Corp., an independent technology market research and consulting firm based in Natick, Mass, said a "dramatic shift" is occurring as device manufacturers are gaining a competitive edge by relying on commercially available solutions for standardized tools and operating systems and focusing in-house development efforts on unique product innovation and differentiation.

"While this trend is driving explosive growth of device software, for Linux customers, it is exposing a plethora of new challenges such as unsupported, forked distributions that are nearly impossible and extremely costly to maintain long-term," Lanfear said. "Because Wind River can offer device manufacturers a complete solution to help retain Linux technology investments and support continuous open-source innovation, the company is well positioned to gain the market leadership position."

Wind River also announced it will optimize its Linux device software platforms and Wind River Workbench development suite to support ARM TrustZone technology, which provides a security foundation for products from ARM Ltd.

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