Microware And Novell To Develop Compatibility Between David And NetWare For Interactive Television Applications

National Cable Television Association Conference (NCTA)

DAVID (Digital Audio/Video Interactive Decoder), which is centered around Microware's successful OS-9 Real-Time-Operating System, is the de facto operating system standard for interactive networks and set-top boxes. Novell intends to port NEST (Novell Embedded Systems Technology) to DAVID for development and use in connection with interactive television and other consumer electronic devices. Through Novell's NEST Program, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are able to quickly and easily develop embedded systems that can participate as clients on a NetWare-based network.

"This agreement is significant because it will enable the many OEMs developing DAVID-based set-top and other interactive devices to build in connectivity to the 40 million world wide users of Novell networks," said Steve Johnson, executive vice president and general manager of New Media for Microware Systems. "Microware looks forward to supporting Novell's networking solutions as we join together to provide additional connectivity into the DAVID environment."

"Novell's commitment to providing quality solutions for the interactive television and embedded systems markets is further strengthened through its relationship with such a respected operating system provider as Microware," said Chris Sontag, director of marketing for Novell's Extended Networks Division. "Providing connectivity between DAVID and NetWare opens up exciting new possibilities for vendors developing intelligent consumer electronics products."

DAVID

DAVID is a standard operating system environment for interactive television decoders that can be used in telephone, cable TV and wireless networks. Created and licensed by Microware, DAVID is based on Microware's OS-9 Real-Time Operating System, which runs on 68XXX, PowerPC and X86 microprocessors. The DAVID system supports both networked and local interactive applications, graphics, and user interfaces.

More than 20 manufacturers -- including General Instrument, IBM, Stellar One, Philips, Zenith, Compression Labs Inc., Samsung, Mitsubishi and Goldstar -- have adopted the DAVID platform for use in decoder products that will be used in trials and network developments throughout 1995. Among these are Bell Atlantic's planned deployment in Virginia and New Jersey, Cox Cable's trial in Nebraska, and Hong Kong Telecom's and Telecom Australia's video-on-demand pilot projects. The DAVID system is also supported by leading video server providers such as Oracle, N-Cube, DEC and IBM, thereby assuring an end-to-end solution for interactive television.

Novell Embedded Systems Technology (NEST)

NEST is an instrumental part of Novell's mission to make computer networks available to a billion users by the year 2000. NEST, because it includes the client component of NetWare, brings NetWare's security, directory services, routing and management capabilities to all intelligent devices. NEST is a small, modular and operating system independent architecture that allows everything from home electronics to automobiles to communicate over computer networks. NEST will enable users to take advantage of advanced Novell technologies like NetWare Directory Services (NDS) -- whether they are connecting from a home PC, a personal digital assistant (PDA), their car or their television set.

Announced and made available in February, 1995, NEST gives OEMs developing intelligent devices an inexpensive and simple way to include a network connection in their products. NEST is currently in use by more than 30 major vendors, including Lexmark, Ricoh, Canon, QMS, Fujitsu, Digital Products, Andover Controls, Xerox and Castelle.

Microware Systems Corporation

Founded in 1977 and headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, Microware was among the first microcomputer software houses to serve the real-time software market. Microware is a "total solution" supplier of real-time software products and services, encompassing high performance real-time operating systems, development tools, custom engineering and training.