|
Phoenix Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: PTEC), the global leader in core systems firmware, and SupportSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPRT), a leader in software and services that make technology work, today announced a plan to develop the industry's first remote PC management solution that would allow users to continue running key productivity applications while the Windows operating system is being remotely diagnosed and repaired. The parties anticipate that the new solution will be built on Phoenix's new HyperSpace(TM) platform which hosts instant-on applications or appliances before, during and after Windows Vista(TM) boots up and shuts down.
"This is a significant step forward in realizing our vision for PC 3.0(TM), which is based on a completely new architecture for personal computers developed by Phoenix," said Woody Hobbs, President and CEO of Phoenix Technologies. "We want the PC to be manageable as soon as it is purchased, usable as soon as it is turned on and fixable as soon as it acts up. The combination of HyperSpace and SupportSoft's technologies could dramatically improve user uptime and productivity, which are currently disrupted whenever the PC OS is 'down' or does not perform as expected. For the first time in the industry, users will remain productive using applications in the HyperSpace environment while Windows is being remotely diagnosed and repaired or updated."
HyperSpace enables new capabilities that can benefit both PC OEMs and end users. These new capabilities are possible because HyperSpace runs independently of the OS, so its functionality is available even if Windows crashes. The availability of the SupportSoft agent within HyperSpace could enable OEMs to provide support services to end users while allowing them to continue to use applications such as email, web browsers and media players, also running within HyperSpace. Phoenix is working with numerous software and hardware vendors to optimize HyperSpace and provide associated applications.
"Our work with Phoenix Technologies is designed to further our mission of 24/7 remote management servicing and provisioning," said Josh Pickus, President and CEO of SupportSoft. "When a PC crashes due to malicious programs or other reasons, the system is inaccessible making it impossible to diagnose the failure's cause and often making data stored on the disk drive inaccessible. As a result, the PC is unavailable when it's needed most and sometimes requires an onsite visit by skilled technicians. With Phoenix HyperSpace we have the opportunity to be able to provide remote maintenance services even when Windows is down and run diagnostic programs while the user continues uninterrupted."
HyperSpace is enabled by Phoenix HyperCore(TM), a virtualization platform that allows the independent Linux-based operating system to run alongside Windows. HyperSpace doesn't compromise the functionality and performance of Windows and associated applications. In fact, by allowing SupportSoft's remote management capabilities to operate outside of Windows, it actually could enable Windows Vista to function more efficiently. The HyperSpace platform hosts instant-on applications or appliances before, during and after Windows Vista boots up and shuts down.
"A PC software appliance is a dedicated PC partition or virtual machine providing a single application or function, without the complexity of a full PC OS," said Brian Gammage, VP and Gartner Fellow, Client Computing Research at Gartner. "By adopting an appliance approach, individual functions, such as firewalls, asset management, TV recorders or media players, will be delivered as separate modules that run alongside, rather than on top of, the standard PC OS. Software appliances will become a major PC development platform, rivaling OS integration as a major focus of PC industry R&D efforts for targeted security and management functions."
About SupportSoft
SupportSoft (Nasdaq: SPRT) is a leading provider of software and services that make technology work. The Company's solutions reduce technology support costs, improve customer satisfaction and enable new revenue streams for companies reaching 50 million users worldwide. The Company has expanded its offerings and now provides Instant Technology Relief(SM) to frustrating technology problems directly to consumers at http://www.support.com/. For more information about the Company and its corporate offerings, visit supportsoft.com; for Instant Technology Relief to consumer technology problems, visit http://www.support.com/ or dial 1-800-PC-SUPPORT.
About Phoenix Technologies
Phoenix Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: PTEC) is the global market leader in system firmware that provides the most secure foundation for today's computing environments. The PC industry's top builders and specifiers trust Phoenix to pioneer open standards and deliver innovative solutions that will help them differentiate their systems, reduce time-to-market and increase their revenues. The Company's flagship products, AwardCore, SecureCore, FailSafe and HyperSpace, are revolutionizing the PC user experience by delivering unprecedented security, reliability and ease-of-use. The Company established industry leadership with its original BIOS product in 1983, has 155 technology patents and 139 pending applications, and has shipped in over one billion systems. Phoenix is headquartered in Milpitas, California with offices worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.phoenix.com
Phoenix, Phoenix Technologies, Phoenix FailSafe, HyperSpace, HyperCore, PC 3.0 and the Phoenix Technologies logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Phoenix Technologies Ltd. SupportSoft is a registered trademark of SupportSoft, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Safe Harbor
The statements in this release include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, regarding, but not limited to, the new remote PC management solution and expected benefits and functionality resulting from the planned collaboration between SupportSoft and Phoenix, our vision for PC 3.0 and the potential applications and appliances that may be based on the HyperSpace platform. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, including: technical challenges and delays, including code bugs and glitches; unexpected challenges relating to the relationship between Phoenix and SupportSoft; our ability to attract and retain key employees; the product offerings of competitors, especially with respect to functionality and time-to-market; price competition; our ability to successfully market and sell the HyperSpace platform and the remote PC management solution to our customers; the ability of our customers to introduce and market products that incorporate and leverage the HyperSpace platform; end-market demand for applications and appliances that may be enabled by the HyperSpace platform; and our ability to adequately protect our intellectual property rights. For a further list and description of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward looking statements in this release, we refer you to Phoenix's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements included in this release are based upon assumptions, forecasts and information available to Phoenix as of the date hereof, and Phoenix assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.
Contacts
Shauli Chaudhuri
Phoenix Technologies Ltd.
Tel. +1 408 570 1946
|
Print press release
Bookmark this page