Leading Tech Companies Unite to Boost OSGi Technology with Royalty-Free Patent Pledge; Plan Will Encourage Use of Open, Dynamic Software Components in Computers and Devices That Use Java.

SAN RAMON, Calif. -- Five high-technology companies and the OSGi(TM) Alliance announced today that they will pledge royalty-free access to necessary patents that can speed the adoption of OSGi technology worldwide. The technology creates a service-oriented, component-based environment for developers and provides standardized ways to manage the software lifecycle. These capabilities greatly increase the value of a wide range of computers and devices that use the Java(TM) platform. The team includes the OSGi Alliance (http://www.osgi.org/) itself as well as OSGi members Gatespace Telematics (http://www.gatespacetelematics.com/), IBM (http://www.ibm.com/us/), Nokia (http://www.nokia.com/), ProSyst Software (http://www.prosyst.com/osgi.html) and Samsung (http://www.samsung.com/).

The OSGi Alliance brings together world-class technologists and business experts dedicated to developing and promoting open, industry-standardized solutions to address fundamental new challenges and opportunities posed by a networked world. In today's world, more of the value provided by all kinds of devices is driven by software and the interaction of that software with networks.

Specifically, the six organizations want to spur innovation among software developers by pledging royalty-free access to any of their patents necessary for the implementation of OSGi Service Platform Release 4. This open OSGi platform is the industry-leading component software standard for networked computers and devices. It spans digital mobile phones, vehicles, embedded appliances, residential gateways, industrial computers, desktop PCs, and, most recently, high-end servers, including mainframes.

The OSGi Service Platform offers increased value, because it allows developers to create sophisticated, component-based solutions and then assemble compatible software components on a customized, "just-in-time" basis. More specifically, it provides a standardized, dynamic module system for applications and services that use the Java platform. Users can therefore manage the lifecycles of software components, which can be installed, assembled, updated, combined with other functions or removed "on the fly" -- without disrupting the operation of a device.

Today's action is notable because it formally extends royalty-free access to necessary patents owned by these six organizations to the general public to encourage use of the OSGi Service Platform Release 4. Previously, such access was generally granted to full OSGi members. The details of today's action are provided in each organization's pledge. (To view the pledges, please use the following URL: http://www.osgi.org/products/non-assert.asp?section=3).

"As a team, we recognize the collective and individual merits of a cooperative and open approach to innovation and shared patent access for the specification, which will promote adoption of the related technology," said Stan Moyer, President, OSGi Alliance. "Working together, we'll help everyone build on the OSGi Service Platform in ways that best benefit the public. The results will be open and enhanced interoperability and compatibility that empowers organizations to compete on the superiority and ingenuity of their offerings."

For example, the OSGi Service Platform enables the following initiatives:

--Nokia and its service providers plan to use the platform for their mobile devices, enabling consumers to download precisely the functions they need for a more customized blend of software and capabilities.

--IBM will continue to leverage the benefits of OSGi technology to deliver business value across its breadth of hardware and software products. Some recent examples include the IBM System p5 server family and software products such as WebSphere Everyplace Deployment and Lotus Sametime. These products all deliver a precise and composable set of services for the customer by exploiting the dynamic module capability for Java made possible by OSGi technology.

--Samsung Electronics' vision is to become a leading company in the digital-convergence market where the Internet, wireless communications, networked systems and contents will be united. Samsung believes that the OSGi Service Platform is a key enabling technology that is bridging services among its markets, including its home and mobile products.

--Gatespace Telematics provides and uses the platform as the key component in solutions for telematics, mobile, residential and industrial markets. The availability of open-source implementations of the OSGi Alliance's standardized, well-designed dynamic module system is changing the landscape and driving wide adoption of OSGi technology. For example, Volvo Bus is building its next-generation telematics gateway using an open-source OSGi platform.

--ProSyst's OSGi based solutions for client and server-side as well as its ready-to-use and custom services and applications are deployed by many Fortune 100 companies, like Siemens, Telefonica and Hewlett Packard. Manufacturers, service providers and developers benefit from the cost- and time-effective development of devices and applications as well as the extended lifecycle capabilities by remotely and securely providing new software components that range from gaming and video on demand to energy management, dynamic off-board navigation and remote patient monitoring.

Today's patent pledges will help the broader OSGi community develop and enhance new and existing software affordably, transparently, efficiently and reliably. It will also help the OSGi Alliance, its members and its supporting community deliver industry-leading, flexible, Java based components that accommodate the wide range of business models used worldwide for software and services while generating new and profitable business models for the future.

OSGi is a trademark of the OSGi Alliance, Inc. in the United States, other countries, or both. Java and all Java based trademarks are trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States, other countries, or both. All company, brand and product names may be trademarks that are the sole property of their respective owners. All Rights Reserved.