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US-software giant Microsoft has participated in the US$24m funding of multi-touch developer N-trig, indicating that the Windows Mobile developer will soon perfect its operating system to include this technology.
Microsoft is expected to make an announcement at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, either regarding Windows Mobile 6.5 or 7, a platform which will be enhanced for the multi-touch environment. The company has also integrated multi-touch capability to Windows 7, its upcoming computer operating system.
"With the introduction of multi-touch in Windows 7, integrated with N-trig's DuoSense technology, our customers will have a new and natural way to interact with their PCs," said Ian LeGrow, Group Program Manager for Windows Client at Microsoft Corp. "By simulating the way people write and touch naturally, N-trig is helping to make it easier to navigate your PC and enable a new class of Windows experiences."
The technology is currently used in computers, namely the Dell Latitude XT, and the HP TouchSmart TX2. In terms of phones, the Apple iPhone currently bears multi-touch, while HTC phones are expected to come up with this feature in the future, perhaps this year.
N-trig has also been responsible for the DuoSense technology, which combines pen, touch, and multi-touch interfaces in mobile computers and other digital input devices. Founded in 1999, the company is head-quartered in Kfar Saba, Israel with offices in Austin, TX and Taipei, Taiwan.
[via CoolSmartPhone]
Press release:
N-trig Secures $24 Million of New Funding to Fuel Hands-on computing™ Growth in Global PC Market
Company to Utilize Funds to Further Develop Multi-Touch Technology Following Investment Procurement
Kfar Saba, Israel and Austin, TX – January 12th, 2009 — N-trig, providers of DuoSense™ technology, combining pen and capacitive touch in a single device, announced today that they have completed a fund-raising round of $24 million from investors, including Aurum Ventures, Challenger Ltd., Canaan Partners, Evergreen Venture Partners and Microsoft Corp.
With this new round of funding, N-trig plans to continue working with leading OEMs to create multi-touch notebooks and convertible computers for the mainstream marketplace. The company’s multi-touch technology will enable OEMs and ISVs to build new interface standards for both enterprise and consumer markets.
“With the introduction of multi-touch in Windows 7, integrated with N-trig’s DuoSense technology, our customers will have a new and natural way to interact with their PCs,” said Ian LeGrow, Group Program Manager for Windows Client at Microsoft Corp. “By simulating the way people write and touch naturally, N-trig is helping to make it easier to navigate your PC and enable a new class of Windows experiences.”
N-trig’s touch technology is currently deployed in Dell’s Latitude XT, and was recently launched on HP’s TouchSmart tx2. The company also plans to announce more OEM design wins in the coming year, representing industry standardization of the N-trig hardware in the marketplace and further breaking down the barriers between the user and their computer.
“We would like to extend our thanks to all our investors for their support,” said Amichai Ben-David, CEO of N-trig. “We will use this funding to keep fueling technology innovations in Hands-on computing, providing leading OEM brands with new product platforms and supporting ISVs to develop new applications. Additionally, we intend to expand our global supply chain by developing breakthrough mobile platforms in order to create and penetrate new markets.”
N-trig’s DuoSense takes established technology to new levels, enabling a more intuitive and natural personal computing experience. Using zero-pressure capacitive touch, DuoSense technology offers cutting edge mobility and productivity, for software and hardware that is easily integrated, and provides the user with the ability to use our two most basic input devices – the pen and our fingers.
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