ETX® 3.0 Standard Continues to Gain Support

Advantech, one of the founding members of ETX, supports ETX 3.0 Community

SAN DIEGO, October 30, 2006 – The ETX® 3.0 standard initiated by Kontron is growing again. Advantech, one of the founding member of the original ETX standard, has agreed to support the ETX 3.0 upgrade and work with Kontron on the upcoming ETX 3.01 revision of the specification.

The updated version of the proven ETX® Computer-on-Module Standard is now supported by 10 leading global vendors, including Kontron, Advantech, MSC, Evalue, Adlink, Seco, Aaeon, Arbor, Axiomtek and Blue Chip Technology. More providers of ETX modules also plan to support ETX 3.0 in the near future.

ETX 3.0 introduces 2x Serial ATA compatibility without changing the established ETX pin configuration, making new modules 100 percent pin-to-pin backward compatible with previous versions and ensuring long-term support for the vast number of embedded application solutions based on these already highly integrated COMs. Applications based on ETX COMs range from automation, medical, gaming and entertainment, to military and aerospace.

“Advantech is one of the founding members of the ETX Industrial Group initiated in 2001: we are delighted to support the updated ETX 3.01 specification, which includes parallel TTL display interface compatibility as an option,” says Jeff Chen, Chief Technology Officer of Advantech. ”In order to prevent customers who use TTL to suffer the incompatibility problem that developed with the ETX 2.7 revision, Advantech supports ETX 3.01 and its later version to include the TTL spec as reference in board manual and design guide, therefore Advantech can keep backward compatibility for many of our existing customers who use TTL.“

“ETX 3.0 adds real value to the embedded market’s most established Computer-On-Module standard - ETX,” comments Dirk Finstel, CTO of Kontron Embedded Modules. “It is for this reason that even more vendors are expected to support ETX 3.0 soon. The rollout of ETX 3.0 will be the fastest de facto standardization process the embedded computing industry has ever seen – and it will encompass all of the world’s major COM vendors and markets.”

Kontron, Advantech, and other members of the ETX Industrial Group have adopted ETX 3.0 with the intention of keeping the standard viable until at least 2010. Additional modules built around dual-core processors and others from Intel®, AMD®, and VIA® are planned for release over the next 12 months, with more to follow. To obtain a copy of the ETX 3.01 specification, contact a local Kontron office or visit the ETX Industrial Group website (www.etx-ig.org). A downloadable version of the specification will be available in the near future.

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About Advantech
Founded in 1983, Advantech is a global leading ePlatform service provider integrating web-based technology, computing platforms and customization services that empower the connected eWorld. Advantech cooperates closely with system integrators to enable them in providing complete solutions for a wide array of applications in various industries. Advantech delivers more than a thousand products and solutions under 3 main categories: Embedded & Applied Computing, Industrial and Network Computing, and eAutomation. With the combined talent of more than 2,000 people, Advantech operates an extensive support, sales and marketing network in 16 countries and 28 major cities to deliver fast time-to-market services to our worldwide customers (Corporate Website: www.advantech.com.tw).

About Kontron
A global leader in embedded computer technology and mobile rugged solutions, Kontron supplies a diversified customer base of OEMs, system integrators, and application providers in the: automation, test and measurement, communications, medical, gaming and entertainment, military, aerospace, transportation, and energy markets. The company helps its customers considerably reduce their time-to-market and gain a competitive advantage with products including: high-performance open computer platforms and systems, single board computers, human-machine interfaces, and mobile rugged computers and displays. Kontron employs more than 2,300 people worldwide and has manufacturing facilities in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific. The company is listed on the German TecDAX 30 stock exchange under the symbol "KBC". Kontron is a Premier member of the Intel ® Communications Alliance which means it has the earliest access to leading-edge Intel technologies and privileged engineering support. For additional information on Kontron, please visit www.kontron.com.

Editor Contact:
Richard Pugnier
Manager, Marketing Communications
Kontron America
858.623.3006
richard.pugnier@us.kontron.com

Product and Technical Contact:
Christine Van De Graaf
Product Marketing Manager, Embedded Modules
Kontron America
510.438.7250
christine.vandegraaf@us.kontron.com