TrueTask USB Platform for USB 3.0 Development by MCCI

Stacks are no longer enough for reliable, extensible development and deployment of USB 3.0 according to MCCI Corporation, developer of USB drivers and firmware for the personal computer and portable device markets.

USB 3.0, now in Windows 8 and OS X Mountain Lion, is being used for a growing set of connectivity applications that require a new approach for USB host and device manufacturers to implement support to ensure the optimum consumer experience and predictable time to market. To address this issue, MCCI is now delivering a platform for USB 3.0, TrueTask USB, which will deliver ROI savings as well as reliability.

"There is a revolution in connectivity coalescing around USB 3.0 today, with over ten billion USB devices shipped, and hundreds of thousands of different kinds of devices. USB 3.0 is being used by product manufacturers for a variety of connectivity applications, from chargers to storage," said Terry Moore, CEO, MCCI. "Creating USB host software is not easy and is risky because of testing and requirements to be compatible with the huge variety of devices. The TrueTask USB platform is pre-tested and pre-verified. With the MCCI platform, we let manufacturers focus on enhancing their products so that they don’t have to worry about USB connectivity."

TrueTask USB is a solution that includes USB 3.0 / USB 2.0 host and device support. It is portable, fast, efficient, and designed to support a variety of hardware. USB 3.0 host software has been tested with tens of thousands of different devices and shipped with over 20 million PCs. In addition to licensing the software, MCCI offers design consultation, integration and customization services. MCCI, one of only nine certified USB-IF test houses worldwide, also offers testing and verification services for USB developers.

"At VDC, we’ve seen a direct relationship for success in markets when companies offer end-to-end solutions that include software, as well as services and expertise," said Jared Weiner, analyst, Embedded Software and Tools Practice, VDC Research. "MCCI’s integrated platform approach and test services will help improve manufacturers’ ability to meet the market’s increasing demand for USB connectivity."

Platforms go beyond simple stacks to provide APIs that are stable across releases and variations in hardware and OS. Only a true platform allows the investment in USB development to be reused across changes in CPUs, OSs, and host or device controller silicon. Because TrueTask USB is portable to any embedded system without source code changes, it saves time and costs for manufacturers. Unlike simple stacks where you have to re-code for each product and each update, TrueTask USB enables manufacturers to leverage their investments for quicker time to market and profit across all future products, and across multiple current products.

"ROI/cost of development data derived from detailed and extensive surveys of embedded developers has shown year-over-year that the use of commercial software, as compared with free or open-source software, results in a lower total cost of development, shorter time to market and better design outcomes," said Dr. Jerry Krasner, VP and chief analyst, Embedded Market Forecasters. "In a market where device manufacturers have a short window to launch new tablets, smartphones, and other portable devices, buying commercial software from a company that knows how to implement USB connectivity makes good business sense."

TrueTask USB is available to select, tier-one customers in automotive, consumer electronics, and printer industries, and will be generally available by the end of Q4 2012.

Prices start at $50,000 for a single-project development platform.

Variants are available for embedded platforms including Linux, MQX, Nucleus, micro-ITRON, Windows Embedded, Windows Compact Embedded, and non-OS/pre-boot environments.

MCCI’s customers include Motorola, Intel, Apple and Sony. Nearly one billion products have been delivered with the company’s technology. The privately-held corporation has its headquarters in Ithaca, NY, with additional offices in New York City, India, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.