SANTA CLARA, CA — October 26, 2011 — ARM Technology Conference 2011 — Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE:FSL) and Green Hills Software announce a new alliance grounded in a shared vision for the expanding role of system virtualization technology in ARM®-based embedded and mobile applications. The initiative is intended to enable intelligent and dynamic use models, reduce device development and production costs, and improve reliability, safety, and security.
The alliance brings together industry leaders in providing ARM architecture-based solutions to the automotive, smart devices and enterprise mobility markets. Green Hills Software is the largest independent vendor of embedded software solutions and a leader in embedded and mobile virtualization and security technology. Freescale is a leading applications processor vendor across a wide range of markets. The company’s flagship i.MX 6 family of application processors provides ARM Cortex™-A9-based solutions in single-, dual- and four-core versions for consumer, industrial, and automotive markets. The product family’s i.MX 6Quad device is distinguished as the industry’s only low-power, four-core applications processor based on Cortex-A9 technology to integrate a full 64-bit memory bus.
Freescale’s i.MX processors feature advanced silicon-level optimizations to support industry-leading virtualization performance. The company was among the first applications processor vendors to integrate multiple graphic engines, thus enabling dedicated hardware acceleration for multiple virtual domains, ultimately resulting in smooth, responsive performance for user interfaces and applications. Other i.MX virtualization optimizations include the incorporation of TrustZone® technology, cryptographic/hashing hardware accelerators, trusted boot and secure storage technologies – all of which combine with the Green Hills INTEGRITY® Multivisor™ to produce a highly robust virtualized system.
Green Hills Software’s INTEGRITY Multivisor on Freescale i.MX application processors will be demonstrated in the Green Hills Software exhibition at ARM TechCon 2011.
“Freescale is pleased to expand its long-time relationship with Green Hills Software to include INTEGRITY Multivisor as a premier security and virtualization solution for current and upcoming versions of i.MX processors,” said Bernd Lienhard, vice president and general manager, Multimedia Applications Division, Freescale. “Key factors for the selection of the INTEGRITY Multivisor include its safety and security pedigree, ability to handle instant-on and hard real-time workloads, and the corporate strength and stability of Green Hills Software.”
“Embedded and mobile device manufacturers need innovative hardware and software platforms upon which to differentiate and deliver value. Green Hills Software is pleased to provide system virtualization and security solutions for Freescale i.MX processors, which provide awesome multimedia and application processing performance for automotive infotainment systems, enterprise tablets, medical devices, and other smart connected machines,” commented Gordon Jones, vice president and general manager, INTEGRITY Secure Virtualization, Green Hills Software.
About Freescale i.MX 6
The i.MX 6 series introduces a scalable multicore family of applications processors based on the ARM Cortex-A9 architecture, enabling next-generation on-the-go applications such as tablets, automotive infotainment systems and eReaders. By combining world-class integration with bleeding-edge 3D graphics, high definition video capabilities and aggressive power management, the i.MX 6 series provides a compelling platform to enable unbounded next-generation user experiences.
About INTEGRITY Multivisor
INTEGRITY Multivisor for the Freescale i.MX is a member of the family of INTEGRITY Secure Virtualization (ISV) solutions. Multivisor consists of the certified INTEGRITY real-time microkernel technology coupled with facilities to execute one or more “guest” operating systems. INTEGRITY Multivisor also provides a native, open standards-based environment for critical applications, such as security functionality, fast-boot real-time apps, and platform/OEM multimedia and communications codecs. The INTEGRITY Multivisor advanced architecture enables virtual machines and critical applications to safely co-exist with guaranteed memory, CPU time resources, and strictly enforced device access control. INTEGRITY Multivisor offers several approaches to virtualization in ARM-powered devices, including paravirtualization, full virtualization with or without hardware hypervisor acceleration, and TrustZone-based virtualization.
About Freescale Semiconductor
Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE:FSL) is a global leader in the design and manufacture of embedded semiconductors for the automotive, consumer, industrial and networking markets. The company is based in Austin, Texas, and has design, research and development, manufacturing and sales operations around the world. www.freescale.com
About Green Hills Software
Founded in 1982, Green Hills Software, Inc. is the largest independent vendor of embedded development solutions. In 2008, the Green Hills INTEGRITY-178B RTOS was the first and only operating system to be certified by NIAP (National Information Assurance Partnership comprised of NSA & NIST) to EAL6+, High Robustness, the highest level of security ever achieved for any software product. Our open architecture integrated development solutions address deeply embedded, absolute security and high-reliability applications for the military/avionics, medical, industrial, automotive, networking, consumer and other markets that demand industry-certified solutions. Green Hills Software is headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA, with European headquarters in the United Kingdom. Visit Green Hills Software at www.ghs.com.
