Virtio Delivers First Virtual Prototype for Freescale i.MX31 Platform

•    Complete SoC and development-board modeling provided
•    Models used by Freescale engineers to develop software
•    Evaluation copies available to OEMs and ISVs

ORLANDO, FL–June 22, 2005–Virtio Corporation, the creator of Virtual Platforms for embedded software development, has been working with Freescale Semiconductor to model several of Freescale’s processor platforms for cellular convergence applications. The second member of Freescale’s family of platforms, the VPMX31 Virtual Platform for the i.MX31 and i.MX31L multimedia application processors, is now available. Freescale and Virtio will be offering OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and ISVs (independent software vendors) an evaluation copy of the VPMX31 Virtual Platform at the Freescale Technology Forum (FTF) in booth #123.

Virtual Platforms provide software developers with a functional-level model that can boot an operating system (OS) and run application code long before hardware becomes available, speeding new system software development. In addition, Virtio’s Virtual I/O technology allows developers to connect external hardware such as display panels, microphones and speakers to the platform through the host PC and evaluate software in a full system configuration. The platform can also simulate peripherals such as memory modules that contain the program code.

Because Virtual Platforms provide complete functional emulation of an entire system, they enable software development and system design testing without the need for hardware availability. Once hardware is available, Virtual Platforms continue to support development by enabling engineers to view and modify a system’s internal registers and functions that are not accessible in the hardware.

The VPMX31 Virtual Platform models both the processor device and the application development system Freescale offers. The unique features of the VPMX31 are the image processing unit and security subsystem models. The image processing feature allows the platform to support camera application development along with OS and application software development. Freescale engineers used the platform in developing the support software for the device and commended the platform’s accuracy.

The standard Virtual Platform allows developers to boot OSs, run application code and develop low-level drivers. Virtio also offers a Platform Development Kit (PDK) allowing developers to customize the platform using built-in authoring tools. The PDK enables extension of the platform to include custom peripherals and skins to create a Virtual Platform for devices based on the i.MX31 processors.

Price and Availability
The VPMX31 Virtual Platform is available immediately starting at $3,100 USD for a single-user license. For more information on the VPMX31 Virtual Platform and PDK please see www.virtio.com/vpmx31.

Evaluation Copies Available
Virtio is demonstrating the Virtual Platforms for Freescale’s processors at the FTF June 20 to 23, 2005. At the forum, Freescale and Virtio will be distributing to OEMs and ISVs evaluation versions of the VPMX31 Virtual Platform modeling the Freescale i.MX31 multimedia application processors. The evaluation version is a fully functional platform with a “sunset” provision that disables the software after the evaluation period. This approach allows developers to explore the Virtual Platform’s full range of capabilities without functional limitation.

About Virtio
Virtio powers dramatic gains in software development by delivering early access to fast, full-function software emulation of embedded devices. Virtio is based in Campbell, California, in the U.S.A with development centers in Campbell, the Alba Centre, Livingston, Scotland and Moscow, Russia. Additional information about Virtio is available at www.virtio.com.

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