Motorola signs TimeSys Linux pact

Motorola's Computer Group has signed a deal under which embedded Linux company TimeSys will provide its version of Linux for Motorola's MVME5500 computing system, the companies said Wednesday. The MVME5500 is designed for computerized equipment such as radar systems, guidance controls, medical equipment imaging and industrial factory controls.

TimeSys develops a version of Linux that guarantees a computer can respond in "real time" to high-priority events--a person hitting a "stop" button on a robot welder, for instance. TimeSys charges customers based on how many developers are designing equipment with its operating system but doesn't charge royalties.