NEW YORK -- Just two weeks after its introduction, Transmeta's Crusoe chip is on the road as Sybase is demonstrating a mobile solution based on the microprocessor at the LinuxWorld conference here.

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Transmeta officials, at the chip's launch event two weeks ago, said that the processor will provide an attractive mobile platform due to its capability of offering increased power and battery life. The chip is intended to reduce complexity and expense through a reliance on software rather than silicon

Sybase is quickly putting that notion to the test, running a demo this week that shows a sales force automation application based on the company's SQL Anywhere database running on a Crusoe-powered device that can syncronize via a wireless hookup to a back-end corporate system.

Though Crusoe-based platforms are not expected until late spring, Sybase next month will include core support for Crusoe-powered Mobile Internet Computers in a new version of its SQL Anywhere Studio mobile database and synchronization technology.

That, said Chris Kleisath, director of product management at Sybase's mobile and embedded computing division, will provide a window of opportunity for its customers to familiarize themselves with the new processor before fully committing to the platform.

"The key thing here is that our customers that will be evaluating Crusoe-powered systems will have the assurance that their technology from Sybase will be fully tested and supported [on the platform]," Kleisath said.

Overall, Kleisath said, Sybase hopes to take advantage of Crusoe's promised battery life and performance advances in allowing its customers to develop rich, mobile enterprise applications without having to worry about platform limitations.

Sybase also Tuesday announced its intention to support Mobile Linux on its SQL Anywhere database, a move company officials say will enable future support of emerging mobile Internet devices including Web pads.

Sybase Inc., in Emeryville, Calif., is at www.sybase.com. Transmeta Corp., in Santa Clara, Calif., is at www.transmeta.com.