Socle Explores more Application Possibilities for Android

The Success of Porting Android onto Multi-purpose Socle ARM-based SoC Platform

HSIN-CHU, TAIWAN – August 3, 2009 – Socle Technology Corporation, a Taiwan-based professional SoC platform solution and service provider, today announces its success of porting Android (v 1.5) operating system onto Socle's ARM-based SoC Platform solution. This is Socle's another success of porting and integrating operating system after WinCE 6.0 and Linux (kernel 2.6.27). It not only provides a state-of-the-art option of operating system but also broadens the possibilities of porting Android onto different electronic appliances and consumer electronics more than just Smartphone and MID.

While providing SoC platform as hardware solution, Socle is also aware of and takes care customers' needs in operating system and has deployed R&D resources to develop Android system on Socle's SoC platforms. With the edge of open source code, Android attracts a great number of developers to engage in its development. The “App Store”-like “Android Market” appeals to consumers as well, which makes system companies take Android as a priority consideration of operating system while developing new consumer products. While the ARM-based SoC is one of the main solutions of consumer electronics, Socle Technology, along with its ARM-based SoC hardware solutions, also provides the value-added system service by helping customers to overcome the systematic obstacles in integrating the interface of hardware and software.

Inside Android architecture and ecosystem, different developers with different expertise, engage themselves in developing the Linux kernel, libraries, and Java-based applications respectively. Most developers still focus on the Java programming for all kinds of application development. Only very few of them focus on one of the critical parts of the ecosystem development, the HW/SW interface integration of the embedded system.

Socle, on its ARM11 and ARM9 SoC platforms, already integrated various HW/SW interface in Hardware Abstraction Layer and Libraries which include many kinds of functional modules, such as Bluetooth module, Camera module, GPS module, FM Tuner module, WiFi module, etc. This early-phase service allows the customers to focus on and develop their system specification and application design, in parallel to the final SoC and system design and development. All of Socle's SoC platforms are silicon-proven and achieved system-level-proven after the success of integration. It helps customers to get advantages of having more lead time or faster time-to-market as well as reducing the productization risk.

To meet consumer product's emerging needs in graphical user interface and multimedia, Socle has proven its ARM-based SoC together with 3D graphics and multimedia IP, such as ARM Mali and DSP. Meanwhile, the correspondent development kit is available for system-level HW/SW interface integration and verification performed at customer side. The most popular touch screen feature is also adopted as display device and human-machine interface on the development kit. Socle’s ARM9 SoC platform can extensively be applied in Mobile Internet Devices, eBook, Personal Media Players, Personal Navigation Devices, Digital Still Cameras, Digital Photo Frame as well as ARM11 SoC platform can be applied in Smartbook, Netbook, Thin Client, Home Media Center, and other leading edge applications.

Socle's success of porting Android operating system onto its ARM-based SoC platform extends the application possibilities more than the frequently seen Smartphone. Android operating system on different type of consumer electronics can be expected hence. It benefits the customers who are developing new product to have the edge of applying the most updated and leading edge solution, shortening the HW/SW integration time, lowering the cost of OS licensing fee, speeding up new product’s time-to-market, and quickly responding to consumer’s needs in the market.

About Socle
Socle Technology Corporation, founded in 2001 and invested by Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd. in June 2008 as a strategic partner, is well-recognized as a leading-edge provider of SoC design and implementation services as well as an architect for more complicated SoC design technology in advanced process nodes. Socle has developed some of the best ARM hardcore and ARM embedded SoC platform among ARM solution providers worldwide. For the best design service with the one-stop-shop convenience, Socle works closely with Chartered and other world-class partners of IP, EDA, assembly, and testing. Socle website: www.socle-tech.com