Insignia Solutions Unveils Jeode PDA Edition; Company Claims Lead in Delivering Java Virtual Machine Technologies To Fast-Growing Pocket PC/PDA Market.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 19, 2001

Insignia Solutions(R) (Nasdaq:INSG), the leading provider of accelerated Java(TM) software solutions for information appliances, announced today the introduction of Jeode(TM) PDA Edition, an implementation of the company's industry-leading Java virtual machine environment that is tailored for the limited memory resources and browsing requirements of Pocket PCs, PDAs and related handheld devices. Jeode PDA Edition is the first in a series of planned announcements to support Insignia's mobile wireless initiative. Insignia is also aggressively pursuing two other major initiatives for the interactive television and automotive markets.

Jeode PDA Edition supports Insignia's claim as the leading provider of Java virtual machine (JVM) technologies for the fast-growing Windows CE and Linux PDA market segments. It incorporates the Jeode EVM(TM) runtime engine, a "Sun Authorized Virtual Machine" that is fully compatible with the PersonalJava(TM) specification, and supports all PersonalJava 1.2 class libraries, including optional classes.

Unlike other JVM providers that have implemented proprietary graphics software layers, the Abstract Windowing Toolkit (AWT) in Jeode PDA Edition has been implemented to leverage each platform's (e.g., Windows CE) native windowing system. This architectural approach preserves the familiar look-and-feel of that environment; enables the use of platform-specific fonts and language support (such as Input Method Editor technology for Japanese, Korean, etc.), and ensures integration with virtual keyboards, such as the Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC's touchscreen. Insignia has also implemented a complete implementation of the Java Native Interface (JNI) protocol to allow developers to support platform-specific functionality (e.g., bar code readers, power management, USB port access) through Java classes.

Insignia Solutions Unveils Jeode PDA Edition

To further support the needs of the PDA community, Insignia has made significant improvements to the start-up time of the Jeode EVM runtime engine by implementing OnAlready technology, which includes pre-loaded PersonalJava core class libraries.

Insignia offers the first JVM environment on the market that provides plug-in support for running Java applets within the Pocket Internet Explorer browser. Jeode PDA Edition also supports other popular browsers for PDAs including Espial Escape, Netclue Clue, Opera 5 for Linux and Tenik WorldTALK.

As with all Insignia products, Jeode PDA Edition leverages the company's dynamic adaptive compilation (DAC(TM)) and precise, concurrent garbage collection technologies to deliver superior performance, and responsive and robust Java application behavior. Insignia also provides developers with the tools they need to configure and tune the Jeode EVM runtime engine and DAC to meet the requirements of each specific device and application.

"There's a lot more to delivering a suitable JVM environment for the PDA industry than meets the eye," said Paul Manze, product line manager for Jeode Runtime Environment with Insignia Solutions. "Jeode PDA Edition is the only solution that combines the accelerated performance and robust memory management in a small memory footprint, for which Insignia is renowned, while fully leveraging the native functionality of the device platform. With this product release, we are enabling developers to create better Java technology-enabled applications while enhancing the value of hardware platforms, like the iPAQ Pocket PC, to enterprise customers."

PDA Market

According to market research firm Venture Development Corporation (VDC), the installed base of PDAs and Pocket PCs is expected to grow from about 16 million this year to almost 70 million by 2005. VDC expects more than 45 percent of all PDAs and Pocket PCs to be Java technology-enabled by that time. Leading companies offering PDAs running on non-Microsoft operating environments include Handspring, Palm, Psion, Research in Motion, Sharp and Sony. Leading companies offering PDAs running on Microsoft Pocket PC or Windows CE include Casio, Compaq, Group Sagem, Hewlett-Packard, Mitsubishi Electric, NEC, Symbol and Toshiba.

Industry Testimonials

Aramira Corporation

"Insignia's Jeode PDA Edition is a fundamental component in running Java technology-based applications on PDAs, Pocket PCs and other mobile devices. It integrates seamlessly with our Jumping Beans(R) Java technology-based software infrastructure that enables system management by providing application developers with the ability to create resident applications that physically jump to, from and between wired and wireless devices in a secure and centrally manageable way." -- Robert Schilling, president

BSQUARE Corporation (Nasdaq:BSQR)

"We believe the new Jeode virtual machine environment is a 'must-have' for Windows Embedded devices. As a premier system integrator, BSQUARE's Professional Engineering Services group will use Jeode PDA Edition to address the growing number of Java applications that will run on next-generation PDAs." -- Lew Larson, vice president of marketing

CIME Software Labs LLC

"Our customer base includes manufacturers of Java industrial robots and real-time control equipment. The human-machine interfaces (HMIs) for interacting with these systems shifted from dedicated consoles to Java-based portable applications. We can't afford long garbage collection cycles or slow GUI rendering. Lives depend on the speed of the Java infrastructure and only Insignia's Jeode technology, including Jeode PDA Edition, provides our customers adequate HMI performance and reliability." -- Eugene Ciurana, chief technology officer

Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE:CPQ)

"The iPAQ Pocket PC is a very popular hardware platform for Java developers to create new applications, and these new Java technology-based software applications, in turn, increase the value of the iPAQ Pocket PC. With Jeode PDA Edition, Insignia provides the glue between the hardware and the software," -- Cindy Box, director, iPAQ Mobile Solutions

Espial

"Insignia has done a great job integrating their Jeode PDA Edition with the underlying Pocket PC systems. We've found this integration to be critical to the success of smart devices that use Java technology. Many developers looking for the power of our DeviceTop Suite, including the Espial Escape browser, on PDA devices will find this combination to be a strong fit for their needs." -- Bob Egner, vice president of marketing

Impart Technology, Inc.

"Jeode PDA Edition support for multiple RTOS environments, coupled with its support for native graphics on each device platform, is critical to our architecture and device interoperability product plan. In addition, Jeode technology support for JNI is far more robust than alternatives we evaluated, and Insignia is proving itself a solid technology partner for our current and future development plans." -- Rebecca Taylor, chief technology officer

Lineo, Inc.

"Insignia's Jeode PDA Edition is an important pervasive component in the new generation of mainstream Linux PDAs. The Jeode runtime environment extends and connects the Embedix Plus PDA platform across all device, operating system, and scale barriers; and introduces a whole new segment of Java application development to smart handheld devices based on Embedix Plus." -- Garnet Brown, senior product manager

NetPost, Inc.

"Built on the robust Insignia Jeode virtual machine environment, NetPost's CREAM TrueView player makes it possible to mobilize enterprise documents onto PDAs, smart phones and other embedded devices -- and to display documents using our small and powerful local client to the best of the devices' ability." -- Amatzia Ben-Artzi, chief executive officer

Pointbase

"Insignia has always been ahead of the curve in providing JVM's for smart devices such as PDAs. PointBase on Jeode PDA Edition is a strong solution for developers looking to rapidly create high performance applications for the exploding mobile computing market." -- Steve Jones, vice president of engineering

SSEYO, Limited

"Quality low bandwidth, small footprint audio is the vital missing component for compelling PDA applications. The SSEYO Koan Interactive Audio Platform for wireless devices delivers this promise. Java application developers using Jeode PDA Edition for the iPAQ Pocket PC will be able to use our comprehensive Java API to create both mobile and Internet PDA applications that use audio to stunning effect." -- John Tenconi, chief executive officer

Sun Microsystems

"Java technology's platform independence makes it the ideal platform for PDA application developers because the resulting applications will run on any architecture that supports a Java virtual machine. The security model of the PersonalJava 1.2 specification also facilitates the migration of PDAs into the wireless space by enabling secure data transfer over the Internet," said Aisling MacRunnels, Director of Marketing, Consumer & Embedded, Sun Microsystems, Inc. "Insignia's Java technology-based Jeode PDA Edition brings accelerated performance and configurability to device manufacturers and software developers."

Trolltech

"Insignia's decision to create Jeode PDA Edition is a wise choice. We continually encounter customers who are searching for memory-efficient JVMs, and Insignia has risen to the challenge. We have made a good decision integrating our Qt/Embedded with Insignia's Jeode technology -- they are adapting well to market demand on embedded Linux platforms, as well as other platforms." -- Haavard Nord, chief executive officer.

Jeode Platform

The Jeode platform enables accelerated and robust Java functionality on information appliances. A "Sun Authorized Virtual Machine" fully compatible with the PersonalJava and EmbeddedJava(TM) specifications, the Jeode EVM runtime engine can execute Java applications 6-10 times faster than interpretive JVMs in roughly the same amount of memory.

Key attributes include:

-- Industry leading accelerated performance and efficient memory utilization
through patent-pending dynamic adaptive compilation (DAC) and precise,
concurrent garbage collection technologies

-- Configurability and tunability to meet the diverse needs of information
appliance developers

-- A turn-key software solution already ported and tested on popular RTOS/
microprocessor combinations:

-- Operating systems include Windows CE, Windows NT4, VxWorks, Linux, ITRON,
Nucleus, BSDI Unix and pSOS

-- Microprocessors include MIPS, ARM, Intel x86, PowerPC and Hitachi SH-3 and
SH-4

Insignia Solutions

Insignia Solutions is the leading provider of accelerated Java software solutions that dynamically optimize the use of available system resources. Insignia's patent-pending Jeode virtual machine technologies are licensed by such leading companies as BSQUARE Corporation (Nasdaq:BSQR), Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE:CPQ), Echelon Corporation (Nasdaq:ELON), Fujitsu PC, Gemstar/TV Guide (Nasdaq:GMST), Humax, Intel Corporation (Nasdaq:INTC), Motorola (Nasdaq:MOT), NCR Corporation (NYSE:NCR), Nortel Networks (NYSE:NT), Olivetti, Philips Semiconductor (NYSE:PHG), Phoenix Technologies (Nasdaq:PTEC), Quantum Corporation (NYSE:DSS)(NYSE:HDD), Siemens AG, Toshiba Information Systems, Victor Data Systems (a subsidiary of JVC), ViewSonic and Wind River Systems (Nasdaq:WIND). Insignia Solutions is publicly held with headquarters in Fremont, Calif., and its main R&D facilities in High Wycombe, England. Sales and marketing departments are located in Fremont and High Wycombe. For additional information on Insignia and its products, call 800/848-7677 in the United States, [phone] in Europe, [phone] in Japan or visit the company's website at http://www.insignia.com.

Forward Looking Statements

The statements in this press release relating to matters that are not historical are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include the anticipated timing of product releases, the expected customer demand for existing and new products, the expected revenue from product sales, the growth of the market for Insignia Solutions' products, and the market demand for the Jeode platform. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that the company will be able to market and support the Jeode product or customers will accept that such product. The company's business is subject to a variety of other risks and uncertainties that include, but are not limited to, rapid technological changes in the industry, increased competition, and timely introduction and customer acceptance of the Company's products. These and other risks and uncertainties are further described in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 and will be described from time to time in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Note to Editors: Insignia and Insignia Solutions are registered trademarks and Jeode, Embedded Virtual Machine, EVM and DAC are trademarks of Insignia Solutions, Inc. Sun Microsystems, Sun, Java, EmbeddedJava, and PersonalJava are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Jumping Beans is a registered trademark of Aramira Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.