ARM Extends Its Lead in 32-Bit Cores for Smart Cards and Security Applications

The ARM SecurCore SC200 Family Supports and Accelerates the Sun Java Card OS, Using ARM's Jazelle Java Technology

CAMBRIDGE, England, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- ARM [(LSE: ARM); (Nasdaq: ARMHY - news)], the industry's leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC microprocessor solutions, today announced at Cartes 2001, Paris, France, the extension of the SecurCore(TM) family with the introduction of the SC200(TM) and SC210(TM) microprocesssor cores, continuing the development of the SecurCore roadmap, targeting the rapidly growing smart card and security market.

Sun® Java Card(TM) has been proven over the past two years as the leading operating system (OS) for smart cards, and in particular for SIMs in GSM mobile phones. According to Dataquest, 24 percent of all SIMs shipped in 2000 were Sun Java Card technology-based, and this market is expected to continue to grow.

Following the launch of the ARM® SC100(TM) microprocessor core in October 2000, ARM has expanded its SecurCore range to include SC200 and SC210 cores. The SC200 core integrates ARM's Jazelle(TM) for Java Card technology, specifically adapted to the Sun Java Card OS, as well as a range of new security features.

The ARM Jazelle Java acceleration technology has been shown to provide up to an eight times performance improvement over existing 32-bit Java solutions. These levels of performance have so far been impossible to achieve in existing 8- and 16-bit Java Card solutions.

Integration of the ARM Jazelle technology in the SC200 family allows the direct execution of Java Card bytecodes and will provide smart card software developers with not only the highest Java Card performance in the industry, but also the best energy efficiency for any Java Card technology-compliant application.

To complement the SC200 core, ARM has also launched the SC210 core. The SC210 incorporates all of the SC200 core features, integrated with a high-performance cryptographic accelerator, providing sub 100ms RSA, without the use of CRT, at 20MHz. This provides a level of performance unmatched even by existing 32-bit solutions.

"In addition to the mobile phone space where all the major telecom operators have been adopting Java Card technology in SIMs, Java Card is now gaining momentum in the banking sector with the endorsement of leading providers of payment solutions such as Visa or American Express," said Richard York, SecurCore product manager, ARM. "Our proven SecurCore technology is already the most widely licensed microprocessor technology for smart cards. With the launch of the SC200 family, ARM is further demonstrating its commitment to the security market and delivering the best and most innovative solutions for the industry."

    Availability
    The ARM SC200 and SC210 cores are available for licensing from ARM.

About ARM

ARM is the industry's leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC microprocessor solutions. The company licenses its high-performance, low-cost, power-efficient RISC processors, peripherals, and system-on-chip designs to leading international electronics companies. ARM also provides comprehensive support required in developing a complete system. ARM's microprocessor cores are rapidly becoming the volume RISC standard in such markets as portable communications, hand-held computing, multimedia digital consumer and embedded solutions. More information on ARM is available at www.arm.com.

ARM is a registered trademark of ARM Limited. SecurCore, SC100, SC200, SC210 and Jazelle are trademarks of ARM Limited. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders. "ARM" is used to represent ARM Holdings plc (LSE: ARM and Nasdaq: ARMHY); its operating company ARM Limited; and the regional subsidiaries ARM INC.; ARM KK; ARM Korea Ltd.; ARM Taiwan; and ARM France SAS.

For further information please contact: Michelle Spencer of ARM, +44-1628-427780, michelle.spencer@arm.com; or Patrick Hall of The Townsend Agency, +1-858-457-4888, ext. 112, phall@townsendagency.com, for ARM.