The Itium 4030 XP stands on the frontier between thin client and the world of embedded software, it allows extending the use of thin client to machine-to-machine applications, to sales point terminals and to interactive kiosks.

Les Ulis, 22 November 2006 – Impact Technologies, the manufacturer of Itium thin client solutions and Fitwin asynchronous communication cards, launches the Itium 4030 XP, its first thin client based on Windows XP Embedded. More powerful and more open, this new generation thin client allows a wider use of thin clients. The Itium 4030 XP embeds in particular a complete and updated version of the Internet Explorer, for simplifying the access to enterprise web applications. Based on its expertise in the optimization of the Windows kernels and the administration of embedded systems, Impact Technologies has automated the installation and the remote management of Itium 4030 XP thin clients, allowing them to be used for machine-to-machine (M2M) applications, sales point terminals and interactive kiosks.

An enriched thin client

The Itium 4030 XP is the first of a new generation of thin clients based on Windows XP Embedded. It combines the advantages of the thin client – security of a controlled and write-protected environment, eliminating the risk of damage to the configuration during operations, while saving maintenance costs – and the functionalities of Windows XPE rich client. It allows in particular extending the thin client application domains (automatic teller machines, interactive kiosks, supervision consoles, Internet access points, IP telephone points, etc.), supporting specific and specialised applications and connecting certain peripherals (such as a Twain scanner) more easily.

Technical description

Based on the Itium 4030 platform of Impact Technologies, till now available only under Windows CE, the Itium 4030 XP is equipped with a VIA EDEN processor at 1 GHz and carries up to 1 Gb of embedded RAM (256 Mb in standard). Equipped with a Compact Flash memory of 512 Mb – extensible up to 4 Gb – for storing the operational kernel and the specialised applications, the Itium 4030 XP integrates in its standard version the RCP, ICA clients and the Internet Explorer browser in its full version. As for connectivity, the Itium 4030 XP has an Ethernet 10/100 connector and 4 USB ports. Like all other Itium thin clients from Impact Technologies; it can also be equipped with an integrated Wifi PCI card for the wireless local networks.

 Configuration and administration

Impact Technologies has simplified the configuration of Windows XP Embedded through the wizard TweakItium. Integrated with the Itium 4030 XP thin client, this wizard allows installing a specific application or creating a reproducible model of the configuration. For the deployments in series, the administrators can also use the ItiumAdmin for XPE, for remote downloading the configuration on other Itium 4030 XP terminals. The centralised administration interface ItiumAdmin for ItiumXP is also used for deploying the upgrades to the operational kernel, supplied by Impact Technologies. Impact Technologies evaluates and integrates the patches provided by Microsoft, thus ensuring the reliability and the security of its Itium 4030 XP thin clients.

Price and availability

The Itium 4030 XP thin clients are available immediately at the suggested retail price of 560 euros excluding taxes. The configuration wizard TweakItium and the centralised remote administration interface ItiumAdmin for ItiumXP are supplied free of cost to the users of Itium 4030 XP.

As regards IMPACT Technologies: Created in 1987, Impact Technologies is the manufacturer for ranges of new generation Itium thin clients and for the Fitwin asynchronous communication adaptors, which are among the most popular sold on the market today. In the thin client domain, Impact Technologies conceived and integrated the embedded operating systems Windows CE, Linux Embedded, Windows XP Embedded. As entirely upgradeable systems, the Itium thin clients can be managed, configured and updated remotely, via the administrative interface delivered with the terminals. Impact Technologies is the only supplier in the market to include its package of administrative aids, hot lines and follow-up for software updates in the initial acquisition costs. To date, more than 65000 terminals have been installed worldwide. Impact Technologies is also the European number one and among the leading world players in the asynchronous communication adaptor market. The Fitwin adaptors are installed in more than 1 million items, and in almost one third of the automated cash dispensers in the world. They are also used in the retail and distribution industries, in railway systems, and in numerous other industries. Based at Ulis, near Paris, and with about 20 employees, Impact Technologies recorded a turnover of 5.7 million euros in 2005.