Avnet, ARM team for embedded software site
Suzanne Deffree, Managing Editor, online -- EDN, October 26, 2011
Santa Clara, CA—Avnet Electronics Marketing and ARM today at ARM TechCon announced the launch of the Embedded Software Store, an online information and e-commerce-based Web site focused on the embedded design community.
The site will provide software downloads from a range of partners that are active in the ARM Connected Community and Avnet's partner ecosystem. Avnet expects the number of partners to grow as the site seeks to consolidate a large number of high-value software options within a single domain.
"Software has become a differentiating factor as consumers continue to demand higher levels of performance and increased functionality in their smart devices," said Tudor Brown, president of ARM, in a statement. "ARM and Avnet have leveraged our industry leadership and extensive partner ecosystems to develop a comprehensive one-stop-shop for accessing, evaluating, and acquiring software. The Embedded Software Store provides easy access to a broad range of software, and this is important for designers as they seek to accelerate innovation."
The site offers a download delivery system and preview of all license agreements in advance of purchase. Users are encouraged to participate in the Embedded Software Store's online community to create a strong ecosystem of software support for ARM technology.
"Today more than ever, customers are facing time-to-market issues and extreme cost pressures," said Harley Feldberg, president of Avnet Electronics Marketing, global, in the statement. "Product cycles are shrinking and demands on engineering developers are expanding. The Embedded Software Store is a marketplace that offers solid choices over a broad range of readily developed software, at competitive prices and proven quality."
Embedded software vendors, including CMX Systems, DSP Concepts, Genesys Ideation, Micrium, Motomic Software, yaSSL, and others, are supporting the site.
"We all know the Internet-of-things era is upon us," Mike Gee, CEO of Motomic, said in the statement. "There will be a wave of billions and billions of devices that will be connected. Embedded Software Store will be the easiest, fastest way for the developer community to get their hands on components to assemble entire solutions."
"What often holds companies back from advancing their products with new technology features by leveraging the full range of advanced technologies found in ARM IP-based microcontrollers, the cost of training, acquiring the required design expertise outside of the company's core competencies, software development, and maintenance," Todd Burghgraef, principal member, Genesys Ideation, said in the statement. "We strongly believe the ARM store will reduce these barriers and allow increased innovation and growth facilitating a quantum leap for electronic products development."
Avnet noted that new software vendors are invited to join the initiative on an ongoing basis.
The Embedded Software Store will be showcased at ARM TechCon 2011 at the Santa Clara Convention center this week.
