Santa Clara, Ca. -- Just as the availability of development tools from Sun and its commitment to Java has made it a widespread software development tool for mobile iA devices, Intel Corp.'s introduction of a C++ Software Development Tool Suite could make this C-derived object oriented language more popular. 

It should be particular useful to developers who want to get more performance out of software running on hand-held devices than they are able to get with Java.

The tool suite consists of a compiler and debugging tools which are configured to support application and system software development for devices using the Intel Personal Internet Client Architecture (Intel PCA) processors running operating systems from Palm, Symbian, Nucleus and devices that are operating-system independent. 

The Tool Suite includes support for the next generation Intel PCA processor codenamed Bulverde, which is based on Intel's Strong-Arm-derived XScale processor architecture.

According to Jon Khazam, general manager of Intel's Software Products Division, software developers use compilers to translate a programming language, such as C++, into the machine language understood by the processor. A more efficient compiler results in better application performance. And the more machine specific the compilers, the faster the code developed will execute onr applications running on Intel processor-based systems, from cell-phones and PDAs to database servers and super-computers, he said.

"The tool suite represents an exciting new chapter for Intel," said Khazam. "This is the first compiler and set of debugging tools we've offered for the Palm, Symbian and Nucleus operating systems, and, like all our tools, it offers developers the potential for improved application performance."

The compiler in the Tool Suite offers some of the same compiler technology also available in Intel compilers for Intel 32 and 64 bit CPUs, such as support for interprocedural optimization, which can speed application performance.

The tool suite includes the Intel C++ Compiler for Intel PCA Processors, version 1.2, and debugging tools. They support the mobile Intel Wireless MMX Technology, which provides capabilities to improve graphical, audio and video performance on mobile phones and PDAs. Khazam said they also support Intel PCA processor-based handheld and mobile devices that use Palm OS v5.x or Nucleus OS v1.13 operating systems or that are OS-independent (there is debugger support only for devices using the Symbian operating system). The debugger, he said,  provides in-depth views into Intel XScale processor which can be useful for low-level driver and application development.

The new Tool Suite is available from and supported by EPI, Inc., and Sophia Systems Ltd. The suggested retail price is $2,999 for a single-user subscription. For more on the tools go to  www.intel.com/software/products, www.epitools.com or www.sophia.com.