Phoenix Technologies Announces HyperSpace

Launching into Hyperspace, Phoenix Technology has announced its new fast-booting environment that allows you to access WiFi and the Internet before booting into Windows on your chosen computer. There will be two different flavors of the downloadable technology for your device, if it is supported.

One version allows you to switch back and forth between they Hyperspace environment and Windows, the other restricts you to one environment or the other. It looks like the cost of this will be $39.95 or $59.95 depending on your choice of the Dual or Hybrid modes you choose. It looks like we’ll be seeing more of this at CES 2009.

UPDATE: Kevin Tofel at jkOnTheRun got his hands on a pre-release version of Hyperspace and has produced a video of it in action.

Press release after the jump.

PHOENIX HYPERSPACEÔ FOR CONSUMERS DEBUTS AT CES, LAS VEGAS

–Delivers Instant-On and Always-Connected Computing – Notebooks and Netbooks can now be as Fast, Fun and Friendly as Mobile Phones

–Consumers can now take advantage of PC 3.0â„¢ Vision

MILPITAS, Calif. January 6, 2009 — Phoenix Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: PTEC), the leader in PC 3.0^TM products, services and embedded technologies, today introduced HyperSpaceÔ for consumers, a revolutionary new instant-on and always-connected computing environment that makes operating a mobile PC as efficient, fun and easy, as operating a cell phone.  HyperSpace dramatically simplifies and improves the mobile experience by allowing users to instantly launch important web-based applications (before Windows ^® even boots), automatically connect to the best available network, extend battery life, and achieve new levels of uptime and security protection. HyperSpace is immediately available for download at www.hyperspace.com

HyperSpace will also be available for download and on display at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas from Jan 8-11 2009, at Phoenix booth# 9014 Central Hall.

Solution for Mobile Computer Users:

HyperSpace directly addresses the top frustrations of today’s mobile computer users. In a recent survey, Get Vocal About Mobile, which was conducted by the Forum to Advance the Mobile Experience and its Reinvent Mobile initiative (www.reinventmobile.com), 1,300 mobile PC consumers listed their greatest frustrations as:

1) Running out of power too quickly

2) Finding a reliable wireless connection and,

3) Waiting too long to boot up and shut down of systems 

““Stop waiting for Windows to boot or worrying about finding the best wireless connection. Instant-on computing with HyperSpace transforms the mobile experience by providing cell phone-like connectivity, ease-of-use and efficiency for key applications,” said Woody Hobbs, president and CEO of Phoenix Technologies. ““In less than a few seconds, you’re up and running — browsing the Internet, emailing, instant messaging, and using other important applications.  By utilizing the power of virtualization technology, HyperSpace can run side-by-side with Windows Vista ^® on certain systems, making your computer far more power efficient, secure and frustration-free.”

Phoenix has been working with the world’s leading silicon and software vendors to create an ecosystem for HyperSpace. HyperSpace is optimized for web applications like Google Apps and will include shortcuts to those applications so that consumers can easily access their favorite Google sites. Phoenix Technologies is also working with Yahoo’s Zimbra division to add Zimbra Desktop email functionality to HyperSpace.

““Laptop and Netbook users typically surf the Web 90% of the time: instant access to the Internet, current information and online applications makes their time online more fun and productive. For over a decade many companies have tried to make virtualization ready for mainstream consumption. Phoenix Technologies has succeeded, and the consumer is the ultimate beneficiary,” added consumer PC guru, Tim Bajarin, of Creative Strategies.

Availability and Pricing:

The HyperSpace instant-on/instant-off experience for the consumer is immediately available for download in two versions at www.hyperspace.com. Consumers can check their laptop while logged into hyperspace.com to determine which version to use. 

• HyperSpace Hybridâ„¢
  • $59.95 annual license or $149.95 for three years, includes updates and free Website support
  • Utilizes the power of virtual technology found in Intel microprocessors
  • Users can toggle back and forth between the two operating system environments, reducing battery consumption by more than 25% when in HyperSpace
• HyperSpace Dualâ„¢
  • $39.95 annual license or $99.95 for three years, includes updates and free Website support
  • Designed for both Windows Vista and Windows XP systems that do not have virtualization enabled at the chipset level by Intel
  • Delivers the same instant-on/instant-off experience with battery savings, however users can be in HyperSpace only when Windows is shut down or in Windows when HyperSpace is shut down

PC OEM Partners and HyperSpace Netbookâ„¢:

HyperSpace will be an embedded or a customized option on many next-generation notebooks and netbooks introduced by leading PC OEM and ODM partners. Phoenix has also launched a version of HyperSpace for the quickly exploding netbook market. HyperSpace Netbook, on display at CES, is a low-cost, efficient and tiny-footprint operating system for Internet access devices, providing instant-on/instant-off ease of use and smart network connectivity.

Key HyperSpace Benefits include:

Instant-on/Instant-off — With HyperSpace, you’re up and running in a few seconds.

Smart connectivity — HyperSpace automatically and seamlessly connects you to the best available wired, WiFi and WAN network.  You can easily add and prioritize preferred networks to optimize performance and cost efficiency.

Longer battery life — Using the web in HyperSpace extends battery power by more than 25% in some systems when compared to computing in Windows.  With the right hardware and usage patterns, consumers can experience all day battery-life on certain platforms.  A constant and significant increase in the number of platforms supporting all day computing is a high priority for Phoenix development.

Security — HyperSpace is a personal computing environment that is far more difficult to infect with viruses, rootkits and spyware than operating systems like Windows.  Applications are digitally signed and stored in a secure memory store that is locked after execution.  Updates and additions to HyperSpace will only be made via a site approved and owned or audited by Phoenix. 

Uptime — If Windows Vistaâ„¢ system fails, HyperSpace is still available and running.  Phoenix partners are expected to shortly deliver solutions to maintain and repair the consumer’s system while the user is still working in HyperSpace.

The combination of all these benefits means more productivity and less frustration for the notebook and netbook user.

About Phoenix Technologies Ltd.

Phoenix Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: PTEC) is the global market leader in system firmware that provides the most secure foundation for today’s computing environments. The PC industry’s top system builders and specifiers trust Phoenix to pioneer open standards and deliver innovative solutions that will help them differentiate their systems, reduce time-to-market and increase their revenues. The Company’s flagship products and services — AwardCore, Phoenix SecureCore, Embedded BIOS, Phoenix FailSafe, HyperSpace, BeInSync and eSupport — are revolutionizing the PC user experience by delivering unprecedented performance, security, reliability, continuity, and ease-of-use. The Company established industry leadership and created the PC clone industry with its original BIOS product in 1983. Phoenix has 159 technology patents and 136 pending applications, and has shipped in over one billion systems. Phoenix is headquartered in Milpitas, California with offices worldwide. For more information, visit https://www.phoenix.com.

Phoenix, Phoenix Technologies, AwardCore, Phoenix SecureCore, Embedded BIOS, Phoenix FailSafe, HyperSpace, HyperSpace Hybrid, HyperSpace Dual, HyperSpace Netbook, PC 3.0, BeInSync, eSupport and the Phoenix Technologies logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Phoenix Technologies Ltd.  All other marks are the marks of their respective owners.

Safe Harbor

The statements in this release include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, regarding, but not limited to, the incorporation of HyperSpace in our OEM partners’ products and sales of subscriptions for HyperSpace. These statements involve risk and uncertainties, including: unexpected technical challenges and delays, including code bugs and glitches; unexpected challenges relating to the relationship between Phoenix and its OEM partners; our ability to successfully compete in new markets where we do not have significant prior experience; competing technology and offerings of competitors, including time to market and price competition; end-user demand for our products and solutions; our ability to hire and retain key employees; and our ability to protect our intellectual property rights. For a further list and description of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward looking statements in this release, we refer you to the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements included in this release are based upon assumptions, forecasts and information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.

Contact:

Phoenix Technologies Ltd.

Global Press Office

Tel : +1 408 570 1060

E-mail: [email protected]