Wind River Declares Device Software the Next Era of Explosive Technology Growth

• Intelligent, connected device software is the next technology hotbed for innovation and growth
• Wind River along with , Red Hat and Red Hat are turning device software into a strategic weapon

Tel-Aviv, May 27 2004 - Wind River Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: WIND,) the global leader in device software optimisation (DSO), today outlined its vision of how the intelligent connected device will be the next hotbed of innovation and growth in the technology sector–revolutionising markets as they exist today. Speaking with customers in San Jose, Ken Klein, Wind River’s chairman, chief executive officer and president, predicted a major shift in device software. In his speech, Mr. Klein declared that companies not actively building connectivity and intelligence into their products today will not survive past the next wave of technology innovation and growth.

For manufacturers, device software will be the critical determining factor for a company’s success or failure. Car navigation systems, home appliances, pacemakers and robots are examples of devices that rely on increasingly complex, connected and intelligent software for the features and functionality that end-users demand. In fact, a mere two percent of the world’s microprocessors go into traditional IT–PCs and servers. The other 98% goes into devices.

“Software innovation in the past has focused on ‘traditional IT’ systems,” said Stephen Balacco, analyst, of Venture Development Corporation. “The next technology wave is device software that creates new scenarios for connected smart devices. Software is increasingly the key driver of competitive advantage for manufacturers building more technologically advanced devices and will raise the notions of what embedded systems are capable of doing.”

Wind River is working with key semiconductor partners and Red Hat to optimise the device software development process, thereby enabling companies to create and enter new markets. Wind River and its partners have committed to provide device manufacturers with the products and services they require to innovate and drive sustainable competitive advantage for their business. Device software optimisation (DSO) enables companies to make their software a strategic weapon.

“The enterprise, desktop and device have collided and customers are now seeking simplicity in the management of securing complex infrastructures,” said Mike Evans, vice president of Partner Development at Red Hat. “With Wind River and Red Hat, companies can standardise device software development across the enterprise.”

“An increasingly intelligent, connected world of devices brings new challenges in complexity for the device manufacturer such as security, standards, and how to drive down costs while increasing quality," said Klein. “Intelligent software presents a huge opportunity for device manufacturers, however many of them have no real expertise in software development. Companies need to develop a software strategy, and by partnering with Wind River on this initiative, we will enable leading manufacturers to catapult to the next level of innovation and thrive in the global economy.”

About Wind River
Wind River is the global leader in device software optimization (DSO). Wind River enables companies to develop and run software faster, better, less expensively and more reliably. Wind River Platforms tightly integrate a rich set of market-leading operating systems, development tools and middleware with services to provide a complete foundation that meets the specific requirements of a vertical market. Wind River's products and professional services are used in multiple markets including aerospace and defence, automotive, digital consumer, industrial, and network infrastructure. Companies from around the world turn to Wind River to create the most reliable products and to accelerate their time to market.

Founded in 1981, Wind River is headquartered in Alameda, Calif., with operations worldwide. To learn more, visit Wind River at http://www.europe.windriver.com or call Wind River at +44 (0)1793 831 831

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