Atsana licenses ARM core to deliver its high-performance wireless multimedia processor

Novel array processor technology coupled with top embedded RISC core to deliver unprecedented multimedia processing

OTTAWA, CANADA, CAMBRIDGE, UK, July 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Atsana Semiconductor Corp., a leader in the development of power-efficient, programmable processors for multimedia wireless devices and ARM ((LSE:ARM), (Nasdaq:ARMHY - News)), the industry's leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC microprocessor solutions, today announced that Atsana has licensed the ARM922T(TM) core for its media processor through the ARM Foundry Program.

The result of this partnership will see Atsana use the ARM922T core for development of its innovative embedded processor for multimedia applications in mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and PC and network digital cameras.

"By licensing the ARM922T core, we are ensuring our ability to deliver a high-performance, low-power processor, which will encourage growth in the wireless multimedia market," said Michael Krause, COO, Atsana Semiconductor Corp. "ARM is the most widely adopted embedded RISC architecture, and it will offer our customers the benefits of programmability, flexibility and an extensive third-party tool set. The ARM922T core, with its excellent power and performance metrics, is the ideal foundation for our multimedia processor."

Atsana's low-power, high-performance processor enables the delivery of processor-intensive wireless multimedia applications such as multimedia messaging, interactive video communications, still images and video streaming. The cost-effective processor offers five to 15 times the processing capability and consumes as little as one-third the power compared to existing multimedia processors.

"Atsana's strength in delivering a cutting-edge processor for wireless multimedia devices highlights the value of the ARM® architecture in this market space," said Tudor Brown, COO, ARM. "This agreement will help drive momentum for a wide variety of ARM core-based processors for wireless handset, PDA and imaging OEMs worldwide."

Atsana's processor, which is expected to ship during the third quarter of 2002, is based on a massively parallel, highly scalable, low-power architecture. The patent-pending technology integrates thousands of processing elements into an array of Random Access Memory (RAM). The chip delivers the processing ability for encoding or decoding video and images to standards such as MPEG-4, JPEG or JPEG2000.

The ARM922T core is a hard macrocell suitable for a wide range of platform OS-based applications. Based around the high-performance ARM9TDMI(TM) 32-bit RISC CPU, the ARM922T core features 8K instruction and data caches, memory management unit (MMU), AMBA(TM) technology-compliant interfaces and support for the ARM real-time trace technology.

About the ARM Foundry Program

The ARM Foundry Program is an innovative business model that enables fabless semiconductor companies in emerging markets to gain access to ARM processor technology for use in the design and manufacture of advanced system- on-chip (SoC) solutions. There are currently 40 partners in the Foundry Program, which was launched in 2000. ARM now offers the ARM7TDMI® core, the ARM922T core, the ARM946E(TM) core and the ARM1022E(TM) core through the program.

The Foundry Program offers a flexible partnership model that accelerates the time-to-market for ARM core-based designs and enables fabless semiconductor companies, which do not have access to fabrication facilities, to work directly with an approved ARM semiconductor foundry. Unlike a traditional ARM license, where a licensee gains both manufacturing and design rights, the ARM Foundry Program builds a three-way partnership between ARM, an approved silicon foundry and a fabless semiconductor company.

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.

About Atsana

Atsana Semiconductor Corp. is a leader in the development of fully programmable, low-power multimedia processors for wireless devices such as handsets, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and PC and network cameras. The fabless semiconductor company's parallel processing technology enables multimedia wireless devices that consume as little as one-third the power of processors offered today. In addition, Atsana's processor enables better quality video encoding, supports higher resolution and is easily scalable and programmable to support a myriad of multimedia applications and standards. Founded in 1999, Atsana is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada. For more information, visit www.atsana.com.

ARM, ARM7TDMI and AMBA are registered trademarks of ARM Limited. ARM922T, ARM9TDMI, ARM946E and ARM1022E 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; ARM France SAS; and ARM China.