SystemSoft Introduces CardSoft
NATICK, Mass. — November 2, 1992 — SystemSoft Corp. Monday introduced CardSoft PC card software, the PCMCIA industry's first interchangeable software solution for computer manufacturers. The CardSoft software will be used by major OEMs and it is expected there will be a great deal of new notebooks showcased at Fall Comdex and through the remainder of this year which have CardSoft software integrated. ''We have been progressing steadily along our strategy,'' said Ed McKernan, product marketing manager for SystemSoft, ''which is to provide computer OEMs with a fully compliant ExCA solution.'' He added, ''Our strategy has been accepted by a wide range of computer vendors because we remove the barriers that will allow any PC card to be used with virtually any new portable machine.
As a result, we foresee a rapid convergence of the standard.'' SystemSoft is able to support system vendors through a layered, modular software architecture that separates the hardware dependent Socket Services from the independent Card Services. The architecture allows for the Card Services to remain the same even as new PCMCIA controller chips and cards are introduced to the market. SystemSoft was able to demonstrate its speed in providing software to support new PCMCIA products when Cirrus Logic introduced its CL-PD6710/6720 PCMCIA host adaptors and CL-SH380 PCMCIA-ATA Disk Controller.
According to Cirrus Logic's vice president of strategic planning, Michael Liccardo, ''SystemSoft's announcement of CardSoft products will provide OEM customers the PCMCIA software solution they have been waiting for. We are impressed with SystemSoft's capability in developing BIOS and power management software and their ability to leverage that expertise into an integrated PCMCIA system software solution.''
In addition to the Socket Services and Card Services components of the CardSoft solution, SystemSoft offers a Card Install Client Driver that registers today's leading Flash, SRAM, Modem, FAX, LAN and ATA-IDE PC cards with Card Services. As new cards are introduced to the market, SystemSoft will update its Card Install Client Driver and offer it as a service to OEMs.
With the modular architecture, SystemSoft has the capability of adding driver support for new PC cards within hours as opposed to weeks, as required with proprietary PCMCIA software designs. ''SystemSoft's CardSoft architecture follows the ExCA approach we first proposed back in 1991. The advantage of this architecture is that it ensures the market will have a non-proprietary solution with a swift acceptance of new PC cards,'' said Jim Weisenstein, director of Flash Card Systems, Intel Corp.
SystemSoft's Enhanced Mode PCMCIA Specification (EPS) implementation guarantees hot swapping of PCMCIA cards while in Microsoft Windows, a feature that SystemSoft proposed to the PCMCIA committee as a future addition to the PCMCIA standard. EPS is expected to receive strong acceptance from notebook OEMs because of the prevalent use of Windows.
SystemSoft's solution is aimed not only at notebook computers, but also at handheld computers and embedded applications based on single chip PC platforms containing PCMCIA 2.0 controllers, like the Vadem VG230. ''We are seeing a significant move to a 2.0 compliant PCMCIA solution in our market and SystemSoft has the most flexible solution with the widest choice of card support,'' said John Vermes, market development vice president, Vadem.
SystemSoft Corp.
Founded in 1989, SystemSoft is a leading OEM supplier of BIOS, power management and PCMCIA software for manufacturers of desktop and portable computers based on the Intel386 SL and i486 processor families. The company's flagship product is its operating system-independent MAXIMIZER power management software, which lengthens the PCs battery life under DOS, Microsoft Windows, PenPoint, OS/2, and UNIX.
SystemSoft is a registered trademark and MAXIMIZER and CardSoft are trademarks of SystemSoft Corp. Intel386, i486 and ExCA are trademarks of Intel Corp. Microsoft is a registered trademark and Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corp. PenPoint is a trademark of GO Corp. OS/2 is a registered trademark of IBM Corp. UNIX is a registered trademark of AT&T Bell Laboratories.
CONTACT:
SystemSoft Corp., Natick
Karen Cummings, 508/651-0088