ACUNIA Launches Wonka(TM): A Top-Performing, Embedded Virtual Machine That Goes `Open Source'

    LEUVEN, Brussels and BOSTON, Oct. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- At a press meeting
 held at the Embedded Systems Conference in Stuttgart, ACUNIA NV, the
 Belgium- and US-based leading provider of software and hardware solutions for
 next-generation telematics, presented Wonka(TM).  Wonka is ACUNIA's cleanroom
 virtual machine (VM) for the Java(TM) language, the first VM and Java
 implementation specifically designed for embedded systems and available under
 an open source license.
 
     Meeting Stringent Requirements of the Automotive World
     Unlike many VMs now being sold to the embedded market, Wonka didn't start
 life on the desktop.  The telematics market lacked a Java platform that met
 the stringent requirements of the automotive market, where system resources
 are limited and rebooting is not an option.
     ACUNIA used its expertise to make it happen.  The result is a virtual
 machine implementation to run Java(TM) code, designed from the start for
 resource-constrained embedded systems.  Wonka is extremely portable and
 applicable for a variety of markets and does not require a host operating
 system.
     "Through the development cycles of the ACUNIA Open Telematics
 FrameworkTM(OTF), we realized that existing VMs did not meet all the
 requirements for OTF-enabled telematics terminals, or telematics terminals in
 general," says Steven Buytaert, co-CEO of ACUNIA and creator of Wonka.
 "Originally born out of necessity, we now want to use the Wonka open source
 project to extend the boundaries of telematics, boost the market for next
 generation telematics and confirm ACUNIA's position as a driving force in that
 market.
     "Wonka is still under active development by ACUNIA," Buytaert adds, "but
 it is now at the point where it can be evaluated by others and built upon."
 
     Setting New Industry Standards for the Embedded Market
     The Wonka virtual machine is ACUNIA's cleanroom implementation of the
 Java(TM) Virtual Machine Specification.  It is extremely portable and
 self-contained, and as an option, can be used with its own real-time operating
 system (RTOS - called OSwald(TM)) to provide a complete solution for embedded
 devices.  All Java2 language features will be supported, and the class
 libraries will meet all the requirements for a platform to support the Open
 Service Gateway Initiative (OSGi) framework and ACUNIA's Open Telematics
 Framework.
 
     Wonka comes with a high-performance lightweight Abstract Window Toolkit
 (AWT), named Rudolph(TM), a large collection of classes for building graphic
 user interfaces suitable for any memory-mapped or frame buffer display.
 Developers can plug in their own implementation, or run with no AWT at all
 (e.g., in a "headless" system).  The choice is open.
     With extensive knowledge in embedded devices, ACUNIA now provides another
 solution to the open source community with the release of the Wonka VM.  With
 Wonka, ACUNIA presents one of the top-performing embedded VMs, setting new
 industry standards for the embedded market.
     Wonka has a variety of features that allow it to function extremely well
 in embedded systems:
 
     * Efficient use of limited resources:  Wonka is designed specifically for
       devices with limited memory and resources, and is being re-engineered to
       reduce consumption even more.
 
     * Exact & Concurrent Garbage Collection (GC):  This feature contributes
       directly to Wonka's efficient use of resources and high availability.
 
     * Persistent Object Store (POS):  This is a unique feature of Wonka that
       enables objects to retain their state while the system is shutdown,
       without requiring them to be serialized to a file. In fact, no file
       system is required.  Wonka maximizes the advantages of a POS and
       requires no modification to existing classes or development tools.
 
     * Easily Portable:  OSwald, Wonka's own RTOS, significantly eases the
       effort required to port Wonka to additional hardware and software
       platforms.
 
     * High Availability:  Wonka effectively utilizes memory (GC algorithm is
       exact) and delivers consistent performance by implementing internal data
       structures and by keeping fragmentation to a minimum.  This is an
       overall requirement for telematics devices, and a must in automotive
       environments.
 
     * A VM for Real-Time:  A telematics device needs to be responsive to user
       input, and to be able to meet the timing constraints of communications
       protocols.  Therefore, Wonka comes with a fully concurrent GC mechanism.
       The GC runs parallel with other applications, giving them priority.
       Finally, the Wonka scheduler takes priorities (and priority inversion
       avoidance) seriously.
 
     About ACUNIA
     Founded in 1996 (as SmartMove), ACUNIA (www.acunia.com) is a leading
 provider of software and hardware solutions for next-generation telematics
 services.  Headquartered in Leuven, Belgium and with an office in Frankfurt,
 the company employs about 120 people worldwide.  The company's U.S.
 subsidiary, ACUNIA Inc., has offices in Cambridge, Mass. and Detroit, Mich.
     ACUNIA developed the Open Telematics Framework(TM) (OTF), the first fully
 functional, end-to-end, Java-based open software design for the entire
 telematics pipeline.  Through its newly created business unit ACUNIA Embedded
 Solutions, ACUNIA develops and commercializes hardware components, of which
 XINGUTM 8000-Series processor represents the first product line.  XINGUTM 8000
 Series is the highest performing, low-power embedded processing solution (850
 MIPS @ 2 Watt power consumption) available in the market today.
 
     Visit the ACUNIA website: www.acunia.com
     Visit the Wonka website:  wonka.acunia.com
 
     ACUNIA, ACUNIA Open Telematics Framework, Xingu, Wonka, OSwald and Rudolph
 are trademarks or registered trademarks of ACUNIA NV in the Benelux and/or
 other countries.  All other brand names and/or product names are the
 trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
 
                     MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT -  Click Here
                http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X42637616
 
 

SOURCE  ACUNIA NV

    LEUVEN, Brussels and BOSTON, Oct. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- At a press meeting
 held at the Embedded Systems Conference in Stuttgart, ACUNIA NV, the
 Belgium- and US-based leading provider of software and hardware solutions for
 next-generation telematics, presented Wonka(TM).  Wonka is ACUNIA's cleanroom
 virtual machine (VM) for the Java(TM) language, the first VM and Java
 implementation specifically designed for embedded systems and available under
 an open source license.
 
     Meeting Stringent Requirements of the Automotive World
     Unlike many VMs now being sold to the embedded market, Wonka didn't start
 life on the desktop.  The telematics market lacked a Java platform that met
 the stringent requirements of the automotive market, where system resources
 are limited and rebooting is not an option.
     ACUNIA used its expertise to make it happen.  The result is a virtual
 machine implementation to run Java(TM) code, designed from the start for
 resource-constrained embedded systems.  Wonka is extremely portable and
 applicable for a variety of markets and does not require a host operating
 system.
     "Through the development cycles of the ACUNIA Open Telematics
 FrameworkTM(OTF), we realized that existing VMs did not meet all the
 requirements for OTF-enabled telematics terminals, or telematics terminals in
 general," says Steven Buytaert, co-CEO of ACUNIA and creator of Wonka.
 "Originally born out of necessity, we now want to use the Wonka open source
 project to extend the boundaries of telematics, boost the market for next
 generation telematics and confirm ACUNIA's position as a driving force in that
 market.
     "Wonka is still under active development by ACUNIA," Buytaert adds, "but
 it is now at the point where it can be evaluated by others and built upon."
 
     Setting New Industry Standards for the Embedded Market
     The Wonka virtual machine is ACUNIA's cleanroom implementation of the
 Java(TM) Virtual Machine Specification.  It is extremely portable and
 self-contained, and as an option, can be used with its own real-time operating
 system (RTOS - called OSwald(TM)) to provide a complete solution for embedded
 devices.  All Java2 language features will be supported, and the class
 libraries will meet all the requirements for a platform to support the Open
 Service Gateway Initiative (OSGi) framework and ACUNIA's Open Telematics
 Framework.
 
     Wonka comes with a high-performance lightweight Abstract Window Toolkit
 (AWT), named Rudolph(TM), a large collection of classes for building graphic
 user interfaces suitable for any memory-mapped or frame buffer display.
 Developers can plug in their own implementation, or run with no AWT at all
 (e.g., in a "headless" system).  The choice is open.
     With extensive knowledge in embedded devices, ACUNIA now provides another
 solution to the open source community with the release of the Wonka VM.  With
 Wonka, ACUNIA presents one of the top-performing embedded VMs, setting new
 industry standards for the embedded market.
     Wonka has a variety of features that allow it to function extremely well
 in embedded systems:
 
     * Efficient use of limited resources:  Wonka is designed specifically for
       devices with limited memory and resources, and is being re-engineered to
       reduce consumption even more.
 
     * Exact & Concurrent Garbage Collection (GC):  This feature contributes
       directly to Wonka's efficient use of resources and high availability.
 
     * Persistent Object Store (POS):  This is a unique feature of Wonka that
       enables objects to retain their state while the system is shutdown,
       without requiring them to be serialized to a file. In fact, no file
       system is required.  Wonka maximizes the advantages of a POS and
       requires no modification to existing classes or development tools.
 
     * Easily Portable:  OSwald, Wonka's own RTOS, significantly eases the
       effort required to port Wonka to additional hardware and software
       platforms.
 
     * High Availability:  Wonka effectively utilizes memory (GC algorithm is
       exact) and delivers consistent performance by implementing internal data
       structures and by keeping fragmentation to a minimum.  This is an
       overall requirement for telematics devices, and a must in automotive
       environments.
 
     * A VM for Real-Time:  A telematics device needs to be responsive to user
       input, and to be able to meet the timing constraints of communications
       protocols.  Therefore, Wonka comes with a fully concurrent GC mechanism.
       The GC runs parallel with other applications, giving them priority.
       Finally, the Wonka scheduler takes priorities (and priority inversion
       avoidance) seriously.
 
     About ACUNIA
     Founded in 1996 (as SmartMove), ACUNIA (www.acunia.com) is a leading
 provider of software and hardware solutions for next-generation telematics
 services.  Headquartered in Leuven, Belgium and with an office in Frankfurt,
 the company employs about 120 people worldwide.  The company's U.S.
 subsidiary, ACUNIA Inc., has offices in Cambridge, Mass. and Detroit, Mich.
     ACUNIA developed the Open Telematics Framework(TM) (OTF), the first fully
 functional, end-to-end, Java-based open software design for the entire
 telematics pipeline.  Through its newly created business unit ACUNIA Embedded
 Solutions, ACUNIA develops and commercializes hardware components, of which
 XINGUTM 8000-Series processor represents the first product line.  XINGUTM 8000
 Series is the highest performing, low-power embedded processing solution (850
 MIPS @ 2 Watt power consumption) available in the market today.
 
     Visit the ACUNIA website: www.acunia.com
     Visit the Wonka website:  wonka.acunia.com
 
     ACUNIA, ACUNIA Open Telematics Framework, Xingu, Wonka, OSwald and Rudolph
 are trademarks or registered trademarks of ACUNIA NV in the Benelux and/or
 other countries.  All other brand names and/or product names are the
 trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
 
                     MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT -  Click Here
                http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X42637616
 
 SOURCE  ACUNIA NV