US : BSQUARE and Sierra Wireless announced a strategic technology initiative designed to reduce development time and cost for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) integrating Sierra Wireless embedded modules into Windows Mobile and Windows Embedded CE powered devices. These devices may be used for applications as varied as data collection, navigation, and point-of-sale solutions.

Under this initiative, Sierra Wireless customers developing Windows Mobile and Windows Embedded CE powered devices now have access both to Sierra Wireless professional integration services and to BSQUARE’s go-to-market radio integration service package for Sierra Wireless modules. The BSQUARE radio integration service package includes Windows Mobile and Windows Embedded CE radio interface layer (RIL) software that has been pre-integrated, pre-tested and performance-optimized for use with the Sierra Wireless radio drivers and with the Microsoft Windows CellCore radio stack. BSQUARE will also offer a Sierra Wireless-based cellular 3G hardware option within its DevKit hardware development platform product line, which will ship with the same optimized software. The new DevKit product is targeted to ship in Q2 2008.

Both the radio integration service package and the DevKit option support Sierra Wireless embedded modules for GSM and CDMA technology. Together, they can significantly reduce the development time and cost for Windows Mobile and Windows Embedded CE OEMs.

“Sierra Wireless is focused on bringing best-in-class wireless modules to market in a variety of devices and applications, and BSQUARE is highly respected as an industry expert in Windows Mobile and Windows Embedded CE development and testing,” said Trent Punnett( above ), senior vice president, Marketing and Corporate Development, for Sierra Wireless. “Collaborating with BSQUARE provides our growing Windows Embedded CE and Windows Mobile category with an unmatched complementary solution, eliminating historical time-to-market and integration cost barriers and providing our Windows Embedded CE and Windows Mobile device customers with a platform for continuing innovation.”

“BSQUARE offers deep expertise in system-level software, including RIL software for both CDMA and GSM radios,” said Brian Crowley, president and CEO of BSQUARE. “This initiative with Sierra Wireless enables us to lower time and cost barriers for customers of all sizes, improving their return on investment and helping them meet the growing demand for cellular radio functionality in embedded devices.”