Press Release

November 20, 2000

OTTAWA, Canada - 20 November 2000: In a move to increase engagement with early-stage embedded developers of Java and Linux-based technology, Espial has announced the launch of its devicetop.com University Program. This program was piloted in October 2000 using Carleton University in Ottawa Canada as the first participating university. The program consists of seminars and weekend workshops where computer science and computer engineering students are taught how to develop and create Java applications specifically for smart devices. The program is the latest step in an ongoing process to build leadership for Espial’s Java and Linux-based software in a rapidly growing industry.

“The embedded industry is on the verge of explosive growth, but a relative shortage of embedded developers threatens to hold the industry back," stated Jaison Dolvane, President and CEO of Espial. "We believe it is Espial’s responsibility to help ensure a sufficient pool of highly skilled embedded developers, to meet the growth of embedded technology. This University Program is part of Espial’s ongoing strategy of making products easier for developers to access."

Espial launched the devicetop.com University Program to deliver on its commitment to educate and network developers, as well as helping to grow a solid base of Java developers. Earlier this year, Espial launched what has since proven to be a highly-popular portal site for smart device applications developers, devicetop.com. Thousands of developers have registered, downloaded free tools and software, and linked to other developers and experts in the field to accelerate their development projects. In addition, private enterprises such as Home Depot and Vistify, Inc. have leveraged Espial’s highly user-friendly and portable software stacks to create applications as diverse as e-commerce and in-store customer service and sales Internet Appliances.

"We realize that educating Java developers goes beyond offering an online community and tools. Developing devicetop.com University is the next step in creating awareness about the smart device industry in a face-to-face environment,” commented Jill Meloche, Web Marketing Manager for devicetop.com. “Our initial seminars and weekend workshop were a great success in terms of teaching students and faculty how to create Java applications for Internet-enabled devices. They succeeded in motivating students and faculty to use devicetop.com as their ongoing resource for Java device development and the smart device market."

Espial hopes to make deviceTop.com a pervasive program across North American universities, offering education, experience and a future market for the product of students’ development efforts. “The devicetop.com University Program allows students to learn hands-on, invaluable experience that previous to this was only addressed through years of working in the industry,” continued Dolvane. “Now students have the opportunity to graduate from school with up to 5 years of experience developing applications for smart devices.”

"We were really excited to work with Espial in order to bring real world examples and success stories into the classroom,” commented Professor Frank Dehne, Director, School of Computer Science, Carleton University. “We take pride in acting as a forerunner in educating computer science students about future trends in computing. We recognize that the smart device market is an industry which is about to explode, and we wanted to make it a priority to offer expertise in this field to our students. Espial and devicetop.com were the perfect fit.”

“I think that what Espial is doing to promote their products to students is phenomenal - they got the attention of a whole faculty really fast,” commented Blair Yakimovich, Computer Science student at Carleton University. “Their seminar provided insight to not only the dynamics of the company and their goal, but to an area of computing I barely knew existed - smart devices. After sitting through their first seminar series my only question was, "How do I program for smart devices?" Surely an anticipated response, for it was not long before I was sitting in Espial's informative workshop, using their cutting-edge tools to create Java apps for smart devices easily, effectively and enjoyably.”

Devicetop.com University Program

The University Program is the latest addition to Espial’s pursuit to meet the demands of a rapidly growing industry. Through the University Program, students and faculty in universities throughout the world are given the opportunity to learn more about the smart device market from industry experts. Weekend Workshops are conducted where students and faculty can learn hands-on how to develop a Java application for smart devices, and Espial’s tools are being integrated into the curriculum.

Espial is also hosting a contest within the devicetop.com developer community. Devicetop.com is giving away a BMW Z3 Roadster to the developer of the best Java-based smart device application submitted to the site www.devicetop.com by December 1st, 2000. With the initial launch of DeviceTop.com University, two summer jobs at Espial and a $2500 signing bonus will be granted to the two best Carleton student applications submitted by December 15th, 2000.

The devicetop.com University Program is a worldwide initiative. If your university/college would like to participate in the Program, please contact Jill Meloche, web marketing manager for devicetop.com at jmeloche@espial.com or at 613.230.4770 x1141.

Carleton University Computer Science Program Carleton University's School of Computer Science graduates are recognized as among the best in Canada. Carleton's prime location in Ottawa places faculty and students in the centre of the fastest-growing concentration of high technology firms in the country. Close ties between the University and this rapidly expanding sector ensure that the programs offered are on the cutting edge of developments in the field. For more information about the Carleton University Computer Science program, check it out at http://www.scs.carleton.ca or phone 613.520.4333.