1999-06-14 , SSC-9906
Business News From Philips Semiconductors

M@gic Box from TCPConnect AG supports email, video telephony, Internet browsing and home banking applications for digital television

Philips Semiconductors, TCPConnect AG and NSIcom Ltd today announced a working demonstration of TCPConnect's M@gic Box™, the first fully Java™-compliant set-top box, which will be revealed at the world-wide developers' JavaONE^SM Conference, San Francisco, 15-18 June. TCPConnect's new set-top box utilizes NSIcom's JSCP™ (Software Co-Processor for Java) and Philips Semiconductors' TriMedia™ VLIW (very long instruction word) multimedia processor to integrate email, video telephony and Internet browsing technology for use with in-home digital television.

All three models of TCPConnect's set-top box will be demonstrated at JavaONE by TCPConnect (booth number 1333) and NSIcom (booth number 1321). The basic i8000 model supplies the user with a Sun™ Java™ browser, an email client, organizer function and other applications such as video telephony. With the i8100 model, users add enhanced audio input and output and extend their range of peripheral options. The i8200 multimedia model adds a 6-Gbit hard disk drive and a cable, satellite or DVB-T modem allowing broadband broadcast and Internet protocol (IP) data reception.

"TCPConnect and NSIcom have used the TriMedia processor to develop an innovative, feature-rich set-top box," said Cees Hartgring, vice president and general manager for Philips Semiconductors' TriMedia Business Line. "Philips Semiconductors' TriMedia processor was designed with leading-edge applications like the M@gic Box in mind."

NSIcom's Software Co-Processor for Java (JSCP™) allows the M@gic Box set-top box to load and execute Java-based applications in real-time. Applications enabled by Java include web browsing, electronic mail, videophones, video-on-demand and home banking from a television set. Because JSCP-enabled applications scale with the M@gic Box models, it allows customization and crash-free execution.

JSCP uses NSIcom's unique encapsulation technology and provides an optimized Java Virtual Machine (JVM) implementation for resource-constrained embedded environments. It enables these systems to load and execute standard Java code while the JVM coexists transparently with non-Java applications. JSCP supports control over the resources used in Java applications -- memory, central processing unit (CPU) and I/O channel. JSCP also offers a broad range of tools and services for customizing Java to specific customer hardware such as the Philips Semiconductors' TriMedia processor.

"NSIcom is the ideal development partner to handle the task of porting Java technology to our dedicated hardware platform. Their JSCP technology represents a significant piece in performing Sun Java technology on our target platform," said Uwe Dammann, TCPConnect's co-chief executive officer. "Philips Semiconductors' TriMedia processor, a powerful single-chip multimedia platform combined with NSIcom's JSCP and the TriMedia software tools, allow us to bring a leading-edge product to market quickly."

Philips Semiconductors' TriMedia multimedia processor uses its innovative VLIW architecture to achieve exceptional performance. The TriMedia compiler and software development environment make it easy to develop TriMedia programs in high-level languages, such as C/C++, instead of the machine language programming required for traditional media processors.

"Embedded product users want rich features that work all the time," said Marius Gafen, vice president of marketing at NSIcom. "Our JSCP delivers what consumers are looking for. When JSCP is combined with a state-of-the-art technology, such as Philips Semiconductors' TriMedia processor and the TCPConnect open platform, a perfect match is created. It proves the fast time-to-market and customization that can be achieved when bringing the power of Java applications to set-top boxes."

TCPConnect AG is dedicated to designing, developing, manufacturing, and marketing Sun Java compliant set-top boxes under the brand name M@gic Box. Headquartered in Munich, Germany, the company has its hardware development center in The Netherlands, software development in Germany, manufacturing in Germany and Asia, and a global partnership and co-development program with strategic companies worldwide. TCPConnect AG offers a variety of dedicated STB models that are modular in hardware and software design to meet a wide variety of user requirements.

NSIcom provides embedded systems users worldwide with a competitive advantage by enabling Java to run on their devices. Dedicated to investing in its customers' success, NSIcom focuses on leading edge development, maintenance and the continued introduction of new products that expand its JSCP™ (Software Co-Processor for Java) family. JSCP is proven in use with all the leading (real-time operating systems (RTOSs) and CPUs, and is up and running in a variety of embedded industries. CrEme™, the latest addition to this family, is optimized for Windows® CE handheld type devices. One of the first Sun Java licensees, NSIcom has earned the position of vendor-of-choice for Java in the embedded and Windows CE environments. Visit NSIcom at www.nsicom.com.

Philips Semiconductors, a division of Royal Philips Electronics, headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is the eighth largest semiconductor supplier in the world. Philips Semiconductors' innovations in digital audio, video, and mobile technology position the company as a leader in the consumer, multimedia and wireless communications markets. Sales offices are located in all major markets around the world and are supported by systems labs. Additional information on Philips Semiconductors can be obtained by accessing its home page at http://www.semiconductors.philips.com

Java and all Java-based marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. JSCP is a trademark of NSIcom, Ltd. TriMedia is a trademark of Philips Electronics North America Corporation. Windows and Windows CE are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. M@gic Box is a trademark of TCPConnect AG.