Two More Companies Support The ETX® 3.0 Standard

Aaeon and Seco Embrace ETX 3.0 initiated by Kontron

SAN DIEGO (June 12, 2006) – Kontron, a leading embedded computer technology company, today announced that two more companies – Aaeon and Seco - have signed on to support the new ETX 3.0 specification initiated by Kontron. Companies already standing with Kontron in support of ETX 3.0 include MSC, Evalue and Adlink, with more companies following suit. To obtain a copy of the ETX 3.0 specification, contact a local Kontron office or visit the ETX Industrial Group website (www.etx-ig.org). A downloadable version of the specification will soon be available.

"According to market research studies conducted by the Venture Development Corporation, the ETX standard is the clear leader in the Computer-On-Modules market and has demonstrably beaten all competing form factors up to now,” commented Dirk Finstel, chief technology officer of Kontron’s Embedded Modules Division. “This position is strengthened by the launch of the new ETX 3.0 specification. It also gives users confidence that new ETX modules will remain state-of-the art for many years to come."

The ETX 3.0 specification introduces 2x Serial ATA without changing any of the ETX pins, ensuring that new modules are 100 percent pin-to-pin compatible with previous versions and ensuring long-term support for the vast number of embedded application solutions based on these already highly integrated COMs in applications from medical, gaming and entertainment; to military and aerospace.

ETX 3.0 modules, such as the Kontron ETX-LX, integrate 2x Serial ATA via two slim line connectors that are designed onto the top-side of the CPU module itself, thereby avoiding the need to modify the ETX-connectors of the module and carrier board so that existing solutions can take advantage of faster Serial ATA hard drives. ETX 3.0 also includes USB 2.0 routed through the existing ETX connectors.

By the middle of Q3 2006, AAEON will announce its first ETX 3.0 CPU module adopting the AMD LX/CS5536. Seco is planning to jump from the ETX 2.8 to the new ETX 3.0 standard with product available in the near future Kontron and other members of the ETX Industrial Group (www.etx-ig.org) 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 course of this year, with more to follow.

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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 in the Intel ® Communications Alliance which means earliest access to leading-edge Intel technologies and privileged engineering support. For additional information on Kontron, please visit www.kontron.com.

About Aaeon:
Founded in 1992, AAEON Technology produces and handles the worldwide marketing of a broad spectrum of OEM/ODM Industrial PCs. The product portfolio includes high-quality Embedded SBCs, Operator Panels, Panel PCs, Medical PCs, Embedded Controllers, Industrial Slot PCs, PC/104 modules and accessory equipment. AAEON maintains branch offices and distributors in the USA, Europe, Mainland China and Singapore for its global transactions. These sales avenues enable AAEON to provide services to all its customers worldwide - quickly and directly. Early in 2004 AAEON founded a new Panel Appliance Division which enables it to offer its system products in specific classifications. AAEON predicts that ODM/OEM projects will amount to 50 percent of turnover.

About Seco:
SECO is a European designer, manufacturer and marketer of high integrated single board computers and systems for embedded applications. It is a privately held company founded in 1979 and located in Italy. SECO’s attention is focused on developing innovative products with high performances, low power consumption and heat dissipation, low cost and increased functionality that enable quick time-to-market. SECO products are optimized for a wide range of OEM applications, such as control and monitoring of industrial processes, portable test equipment, data acquisition, medical devices, automotive, telecommunications, embedded applications, military applications. They offer high reliability and can resist vibrations, humidity and extended temperature range.

For further information:

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

Product and Technical Contact
Christine Howe
Product Marketing Manager
Kontron America
510.438.7250
christine.howe@us.kontron.com