ARM and Superscape Develop Interactive 3D Product For Mobile Applications
First Showing of New Product at 3GSM World Congress 2002, Cannes, France
CAMBRIDGE, England and HOOK, England, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
ARM [(LSE: ARM); (Nasdaq: ARMHY - news)], the industry's leading provider of
16/32-bit embedded RISC processor solutions, and Superscape plc, (LSE: SPS),
an interactive 3D specialist, announced today at the 3GSM World Congress in
Cannes, France, that the two companies have developed a 3D software rendering
engine for mobile phones, a key element of their new interactive 3D
applications platform, Swerve.
ARM has completed the code optimization of the
first preview release of the Superscape Swerve Client Lite, the Swerve entry-
level product for handset manufacturers.
The Swerve Client range will be licensed and marketed by ARM to its global
network of Partners who include some of the world's leading manufacturers of
mobile phones and chip sets.
It is anticipated that ARM will start shipping
Swerve Client during Q22002.
In addition to the engine itself, a
comprehensive package of content creation tools and services will also be
available from Superscape.
"We believe that interactive 3D technology, capable of delivering
innovative games, personalized messaging and easily navigable user interfaces
on 2.5 and 3G mobile phones will be very attractive to the cellular community;
notably as a means of delivering rich 3D content to consumers over 2.5G and 3G
cellular networks so increasing network traffic," said Steve Evans, VP,
Segment Marketing, ARM.
"Market response to early demonstrations of Swerve
has been extremely encouraging.
Superscape is developing a robust
applications platform which combines high-quality graphics with compact file
sizes, both of which are prerequisites in the mobile environment."
"Development of the Swerve 3D applications platform is progressing very
well, with excellent early reaction from the global wireless market," said
Dr. Mike Grant, VP, Marketing and Strategy at Superscape plc.
"As the power
behind wireless 3D, the ARM core-optimized Swerve platform offers
manufacturers, operators and content developers the power to create, deliver
and experience a wide range of entirely new and compelling wireless
applications.
We strongly believe that those applications will very quickly
make a major contribution to increasing industry revenues from both 2.5G and
3G wireless data services."
Notes to Editors
About Swerve
Swerve enables the delivery of a wide range of compelling user experiences
on mobile phones including 3D games, user interfaces and messaging.
Using
Swerve, providers of Java(TM) technology and C++ applications can enhance the
look and feel of existing services or enable the creation of entirely new
applications.
For manufacturers, operators and content developers, Swerve
technology is an innovative, cost-effective and flexible means of offering
exciting new services to generate additional traffic and increase revenues.
The Swerve 3D applications platform is comprised of three components: 3D
rendering engine, development tools, content creation services.
Swerve Client, embedded into the software environment of the mobile phone,
provides the platform on which new, attractive services can be launched --
encouraging users to invest in new handsets which will be capable of
delivering these compelling experiences.
Swerve Client will be available as
part of a Java technology (J2ME compliant) or as a native C++ solution.
It
has been developed to make maximum use of the assets already on-board the
phone.
Swerve has a low absolute ROM footprint, but can deliver 3D
experiences in as little as 20 Kbytes of RAM.
Swerve Author enables the fast creation of interactive 3D objects, scenes
and complete applications using the patented Swerve techniques.
Based on the
industry standard design tool 3D Studio Max, designers can create content from
scratch or build applications using pre-existing assets.
Also incorporating a
range of behavior prototyping, emulation and production tools, Swerve Author
provides a complete solution to 3D application development.
Swerve Applications, a range of ready-made applications for enhanced
messaging, gaming and user interfaces, is available from the Superscape
Professional Services Group.
These applications demonstrate the full range of
capabilities of Swerve and provide customers with rich experiences to deliver
directly to consumers.
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, handheld computing, multimedia, digital
consumer and embedded solutions. More information on ARM is available at
http://www.arm.com .
About Superscape
Superscape specializes in the development of interactive 3D(i3D)
technology.
The company has sixteen years experience working in this area,
with recent projects including development of the highly successful Harry
Potter game for LEGO Media.
Superscape's Swerve, comprising software and
services, has been developed for wireless environments and has been endorsed
by some of the world's key players in this sector. Working in close
collaboration with ARM, Swerve is an enabling technology for wireless devices
delivering a new generation of multimedia for feature-rich 2.5 and 3G mobile
phones.
Swerve comprises a 3D engine, authoring tools and a range of
associated content development and integration services designed to offer a
complete yet flexible solution.
Applications for Swerve include messaging systems, entertainment, branding
and location-based information services.
Swerve 3D is available for Java
(J2ME) platforms, as well as a range of native operating system environments.
Superscape is quoted on the London Stock Exchange and has corporate
headquarters in Hook, Hampshire (UK) and San Clemente, California (USA) with
regional offices in Tokyo, New Jersey, Paris, Sydney and Barcelona.
For more
information, visit www.superscape.com .
ARM is a registered trademark 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:
Maggie Templeman, Corporate
Communications, Superscape plc, Cromwell House, Bartley Wood Business Park,
Hook, Hampshire RG27 9XA, +44-(0)1256-745769, fax +44-(0)1256-745777,
mtempleman@superscape.com; or Michelle Spencer of ARM, +44-1628-427780,
michelle.spencer@arm.com; or Kelly Foster of The Townsend Agency,
+1-858-457-4888 ext. 143, kfoster@townsendagency.com, for ARM