ARM Extends PrimeXsys Family With Introduction of Dual Core Platform For Networking Applications

Growing Requirement for Embedded Platform Solutions Drives Evolution of ARM's PrimeXsys Technologies

CAMBRIDGE, England, June 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ARM [(LSE: ARM); (Nasdaq: ARMHY - News)], the industry's leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC microprocessor solutions today announced the launch of the ARM PrimeXsys(TM) Dual Core Platform. The ARM PrimeXsys Dual Core Platform is the latest product in the PrimeXsys platform family and has been designed specifically for networking applications that benefit from ARM's low-power, high-performance design.

The PrimeXsys Dual Core Platform has been specifically developed for applications such as Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) and consumer networking applications like cable modems, xDSL modems, WLAN access points, SOHO routers and switches. The performance and flexibility of the ARM PrimeXsys Dual Core Platform enables the effective performance of the device to be increased without the normally required MHz increase and associated power and heat consequences. Therefore, it is ideally suited to low-end infrastructure equipment including central office integrated access devices, access routers and switches, and low- to mid-size enterprise infrastructure equipment.

"A key factor of the ARM PrimeXsys solution is the methodology that enables it to be extended for product differentiation while continuing to meet the basic functional requirements of the specific application," said Bruce Beckloff, Networking segment manager, ARM. "By incorporating the ARM PrimeXsys Dual Core Platform into their solutions, developers can concentrate on the integration of their own high-value IP and be flexible enough to meet the rapidly changing technology requirements of the networking market."

The ARM PrimeXsys solution provides a foundation for open architecture platforms that offer developers integrated building blocks that lower development risks by delivering pre-validated, application targeted, hardware sub-systems, along with all relevant application software and a wide range of operating system (OS) ports. By providing the basic foundation of a system, the ARM PrimeXsys platform enables immediate and parallel development on the chosen OS and additional application software to take place while the validation and simultaneous creation of the actual silicon is underway, thereby significantly reducing time-to-market for the end product.

The Dual Core Platform also contains single- and multi-core debugging capability and real-time trace options, further reducing time-to-market, while its standard and scalable system-on-chip (SoC) infrastructure provides a high level of reusability to the developer.

"The evolution in the networking industry is resulting in the constant improvement of standards and protocols," said Markus Levy, senior analyst of the Microprocessor Report and EEMBC president. "The ARM PrimeXsys Dual Core Platform will not only give the silicon developer the required flexibility and reusability for this market, but also provides the basic building blocks to overcome the hurdles of the SoC development process."

Pricing and Availability

The PrimeXsys Dual Core Platform is currently available for licensing from ARM with product available in early Q4 2002.

About PrimeXsys Platforms

The ARM PrimeXsys solution provides the standard framework for the creation and delivery of leading-edge digital devices by providing a licensable, extendable product comprising hardware, software and integration methodology tools.

At the heart of the ARM PrimeXsys solution is a generic base hardware platform that defines the CPU's application focus, the standard OS peripheral blocks and the interconnection fabric that enables the integration of additional functionality to fully characterize the desired final product.

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 (SoC) designs to leading international electronics companies. ARM also provides comprehensive support required in developing a complete system. ARM's microprocessor cores are rapidly becoming a 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