While both Opteron and Itanium ran newer 64-bit software, AMD's chip was also backward-compatible, enabling it to run software written for older 32-bit processors.
And all of a sudden your relatively old refrigerator or air conditioner doesn't work because the new operating system isn't backward-compatible with the systems in these devices.
The Aircell Smartphone will be backward-compatible with all Aircell Axxess communications systems currently in production, and available as a drop-in replacement for the company's prolific Aircell Axxess flush-mount handset.