[June 07, 2005] U3 Unites Leading USB Drive Manufacturers and Software Developers at First Annual U3 Global Developer Summit; Showcasing More Than 45 'U3 Smart' Applications for U3 Powered USB Smart Drives Tweet SAN JOSE, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- June 7, 2005 -- U3(TM) LLC, creator of the U3 smart drive computing platform for USB smart drives, kicks off its first annual U3 Global Developer Summit in just minutes. The U3 Developer Summit, an invitation-only event that runs today and tomorrow in downtown San Jose, unites leading USB drive manufacturers and software developers. Keynote speakers at the Developer Summit include U3 Chief Executive Officer Kate Purmal, SanDisk Chief Executive Officer Dr. Eli Harari, M-Systems Chief Executive Officer Dov Moran, Gartner Analyst Joe Unsworth, and Jeff Hawkins, founder of Palm Computing and Handspring, and inventor of the Palm Pilot. Developers at the Summit represent a variety of industries including entertainment, productivity, medical, synchronization, mobility, finance, security and back-up. Thirty-one companies are showcasing more than 45 U3 compatible applications - called 'U3 smart' applications, which could be available this fall for U3 powered USB smart drives. Some of the fast-rising companies that are showcasing applications include McAfee, Inc., a leader in intrusion prevention and security risk management; Mozilla Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving choice and promoting innovation on the Internet; PowerHouse Technologies Group, Inc., a leading provider of mobile computing software; leading creator of digital media services and software RealNetworks(R) Inc.; global Internet telephony company(TM) Skype; Trend Micro Inc., leader in network antivirus and Internet content security software and services; and one of the most trusted brands in Internet security - Zone Labs(R), a Check Point(R) company. Many of the pioneering developers at the Summit today are also announcing intentions to make 'U3 smart' applications available for purchase this fall. Some of those companies include leading instant messaging service provider ICQ; PowerHouse; award-winning photo management software Preclick(R); Skype; Trend Micro; digital media software Ulead Systems, Inc. and Zone Labs. Details on these announcements can be found in other press releases issued today by U3. "The many accomplishments of U3 this year include our company launch, support from software developers and the announcements of the first manufacturers of U3 powered smart drives. Today's Developer Summit will unite our eco-system of leading hardware manufacturers and software developers behind a common vision to make smart drive computing a reality," said Purmal. "The Summit is sure to stimulate new ideas that will make smart drive computing a roaring success among consumers." In the four months since the company's launch at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, eight manufacturers have announced that they will produce U3 powered USB smart drives this year. In addition to USB flash drive market leaders and U3 backers M-Systems and SanDisk(R), Kingston(R) Technology Company, Memorex, and Verbatim(R) Limited as well as European partners Clever-Stuff disgo, Dexxon Data Media and disk2go by Data Storage Advisors AG will offer U3 powered USB smart drives to consumers this fall. A U3 powered USB smart drive hosts a "personal workspace" -- not only a person's data and files, but software programs, personal preferences and the means for managing them -- all in a highly secure environment. The U3 platform is designed to leave the host computer unaltered when the U3 powered USB smart drive is removed, and the user has full confidence that no personal information has been left behind. U3 Smart Drive Computing Platform The U3 smart drive computing platform includes a hardware development kit (HDK), software developer kit (SDK) and the U3 system software. The HDK gives manufacturers the core technology to build U3 powered USB smart drives. The SDK enables software developers to deploy their applications onto U3 powered USB smart drives with minimal effort. The U3 system software includes the U3 Launchpad, which comes installed on all U3 powered USB smart drives and is the entry point to the "personal workspace" on the smart drive. About U3 U3 LLC of Redwood City, Calif. has developed an innovative platform to make USB smart drives that host a "personal workspace" -- not only data and files, but software programs, personal user preferences and the means for managing them. U3 powered smart drives transform a PC into a truly personalized computer, quickly, easily and securely, and exit transparently when done. U3, backed by USB flash drive market leaders M-Systems (NASDAQ:FLSH) and SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK), licenses its platform to USB drive manufacturers. For more information see www.U3.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]