Latest News

MPC Data introduces dedicated business groups for embedded software platforms 12/04/2007

MPC Data Ltd has unveiled the company's new structure, with the introduction of dedicated business groups for Windows ® Embedded and Embedded Linux software platforms as well as a specialist Embedded Solutions Group.

The move, which builds on the company's 22 years experience in serving the embedded software industry, is supported by its teams of skilled software and hardware engineers.

With extensive experience of commercial embedded operating systems and processors along with its ability to view technically challenging problems from a business perspective , MPC Data is perfectly positioned to offer dedicated design, development, integration, test and deployment services across all platforms and application areas.

Kevin Heawood , Strategic Development Director, stated: “By listening to the issues faced by our customers today, MPC Data has identified a need for dedicated resources and expertise in these distinct areas.”

Alan Rowe , Windows Embedded Group Director, said: “Responding to customer demand and building on the ever-increasing trend towards connected devices, our Windows Embedded Business Group brings together MPC Data 's expertise in Windows CE, Windows XP Embedded and Windows Mobile in a single, dedicated team. This enables us as a leading Windows Embedded Gold Partner to offer the resources and experience to react to customers' needs quickly and cost effectively.”

Phil Buckley, Embedded Linux Group Director, commented: “After more than 15 years of working with Linux, I am delighted to be able to focus our expertise within a dedicated team of specialists.

With experience in building customised Linux BSPs from leading edge open source components as well as integrating tried and tested commercial grade solutions from such companies as WindRiver and MontaVista, MPC Data is a safe pair of hands to bring the necessary knowledge, advice and assistance to those companies who recognise or are considering the value of open source solutions. ”

“Our Embedded Solutions Group brings together a team with more than 300 man-years experience of developing products in areas such as hard real-time, safety critical, high speed communications and network infrastructure. This enables us to provide our clients with the skills and experience needed to deliver bespoke software platforms and applications that meet stringent and often unique demands ” said Steve Harper, Managing Director.

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MPC Data and Teradyne Inc – a long standing relationship 28/03/2007

One of MPC Data’s oldest development relationships recently passed a significant milestone. In 1987 MPC Data Limited started work on its first fixed price project for the Broadband Test Division of Teradyne Inc, the world leader in ATE and test systems. Twenty years later, MPC Data engineers are still providing valuable support and development expertise to Teradyne. The technology may have moved on from that used in the mid-eighties but the philosophy and sound business sense of the relationship has not.

The first project was written in C and ran on an MSDOS based IBM PC. Things have moved on since those times however with latest systems based on Java, SOAP, CORBA, XML and C++ running on an SMP Solaris platform.

Steve Harper, Managing Director, MPC Data Limited added “Back in 1987, we recognised that Teradyne was making a significant investment in our expertise by placing business with us. It was (and still is) our responsibility to ensure that we repay that investment by providing continuity of support to our clients. We must however always ensure we are flexible enough to match our resourcing to the fluctuating demands of our client’s marketplace”

Through the 20 years of the relationship the development team supplied to Teradyne has at times varied from one engineer to teams of more than 20. What this means in essence is that Teradyne can rely on a pool of expertise in their products and marketplace without maintaining a large permanent development team with its associated costs.

Another benefit Teradyne gains from its relationship with MPC Data is access to the sheer breadth of development expertise MPC Data can bring to bear from its work with a wide variety of clients in a wide variety of markets. Our close relationships with key industry players such as Microsoft, Texas Instruments and Renesas also ensure that we can provide access to the latest technologies.

MPC Data Limited provides a wide variety of development expertise to Teradyne from relational database expertise to Linux driver development skills along with Java, SOAP and CORBA technologies through .Net and MFC programming to real-time embedded systems signal processing.

“MPC Data’s market awareness, technical expertise, flexibility and pragmatic approach are very much appreciated” says Teradyne’s Engineering Manager of the Broadband Test Division - Jim Palgrave.

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MPC Data wins development contract from Navigon 05/03/2007

Navigon AG has placed a major development contract with MPC Data Ltd for the development of a full Microsoft Windows CE 5.0 Board Support Package (BSP) for their next generation of portable satellite navigation system based on a PXA270 platform.

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MPC Data join Renesas Global Alliance 13/02/2007

MPC Data is pleased to announce that we are one of the original Platinum Partner members of the new Renesas Global Alliance program. MPC Data was invited into the program for our extensive track record in working with Renesas, and their Microcontroller and Microprocessor families, particularly the SuperH RISC Engine Family. Working closely with Renesas as part of this program, we will be able to provide Board Support Packages and Professional Engineering Services for the latest SH devices as they become available for new designs.

For the Renesas SH family we have specific expertise in;

Renesas tools, including development of reference Board Support Packages and system software.

• Consultancy Services to help client choose the most suitable SH device and system solution for their products.
• Windows CE porting to custom hardware including boot loaders, Driver development , Custom Board Support Package Creation, Applications creation and development, including .NET Compact Framework and Managed Code applications.
• Linux Board Support Package Creation, Applications creation and development, from commercial grade Linux vendors and from open source code bases.
• µClinux distributions for the SH2A family.
• Linux support. MPC data has hosted the www.shlinux.com web site since 2003, providing support and knowledge for Renesas SH devices.
• Real Time OS porting and application development including systems based on QNX, ThreadX, VxWorks, µItron and Nucleus.
• Full professional software services from technical support through application integration to full product development.

MPC Data has expertise in all of the SH architectures including SH2A, SH4A and SH-Mobile based devices, and has worked with clients in end markets as diverse as car navigation, telematics, transportation, multimedia equipment, networking equipment, POS terminals, hand-held terminals, net terminals, factory automation and video/image processing.

If you are thinking about using a Renesas SH based device, please contact us to find out why MPC Data have been invited to be a Renesas Platinum Partner and how MPC Data can help you get your product to market.