Award announces system management software for next-generation PCs.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 16, 1995--Award Software International, a leading manufacturer of high-performance ROM BIOS and PCMCIA software, announces development that integrates leading-edge technology, Desktop Management Interface (DMI) and Universal Serial Bus (USB), support into a PC System Management Software package.

The introduction of PCI, and Plug and Play devices have expanded the role and the responsibility played by BIOS and System Software into one of PC System Management. Although this role is largely transparent to the end user, its benefits are not and will take another major step forward in the next generation of PCs. The implementation of DMI and USB raise similar opportunities for OEMs and PC system developers. Before either technology can be accessed by the end user, it must first be initialized and its resources configured or managed by a BIOS or System Software driver on a PC. This process "must" remain hidden to meet ease of use requirements.

The introduction of Windows95 and the growing home market has spurred a surge of new technologies aimed at increasing ease-of-use, connectivity and maintenance of PCs over the next six to nine months. "Millions of users in 1996 will want much more out of their PC. This new PC must have Windows95 pre-installed, be multimedia capable, be intelligent enough to configure itself, allow for simple expandability, and be immediately connectable to outside services such as the Internet or CompuServe," said Dr. Ann Shen, v.p. of sales and marketing at Award.

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

USB takes the principals of Plug and Play and adds support for low- to medium-speed PC devices outside the computer, such as keyboards, mice, VR peripherals, scanners and ISDN lines. USB defines a network-like design to connect peripherals to the host (PC or controller) through a hub (repeater) that services devices in each geographic node (mouse, light-pen, monitor). Award has helped define the Universal Serial BUS BIOS interface specification and now is focusing on implementing the Setup/POST and Initial Program Load (IPL) code to be ready for early silicon designers who adopt USB. Early product adoptions for USB are expected to come from the telecommunications side, but USB mice, keyboards and other peripherals should soon follow.

Desktop Management Interface 

Desktop Management Interface will allow the management of desktop PCs through standardized file formats, called MIFs, (Management Information Files). The interface is initially targeted for use within enterprise level networks. Award is participating in the implementation and adoption of this technology at the Desktop Management Interface (DMI) level, which is an independent protocol that allows the communication of status and messaging to management systems within the enterprise. The DMI aware Award BIOS opens up the possibility of easy access to system configuration and diagnostic data of a PC through a utility that is either locally or remotely executed.

Award plans to showcase much of its System Management Software solutions at Comdex Fall 1995, in Las Vegas. Along with DMI support the Award Desktop Management Software also employs a great deal of built-in device detection and configuration management intelligence to aid the user. Embedded multi-boot setup options allow selectable booting from ATAPI, CD-ROM, Enhanced IDE, Network and other devices in or attached to the system. A Windows95 version of the Award PCMCIA product called CardWare will be demonstrated as part of Award's new Portable System Management Software.

Early samples of the Award USB BIOS should be available in the same time-frame as the first chipset vendors expect to introduce products slated for support late this year.

Founded in 1983, Award Software International, Inc. designs, publishes and markets System Management Software including BIOS and PCMCIA for personal, mobile and wireless computing and communications devices worldwide. It is a member of PCMCIA USB and the DMTF committees and actively focuses on expanding each association's worldwide acceptance. Award's customers rank among the world's leaders in microprocessors, personal computers, peripherals and communication devices such as IBM, Intel, Toshiba, AT&T, AMD, Samsung, AST and National Semiconductor. -0-

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CONTACT: Award Software International

Jeffrey Flink, 415/968-4433

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