Next-Generation ARM Technology Selected by STMicroelectronics to Power Advanced Handheld Multimedia Devices

ARM Cortex-A8 processor delivers unparalleled power efficiency and performance in next-generation devices

CAMBRIDGE, UK – Oct. 24, 2006 – ARM [(LSE:ARM); (NASDAQ:ARMHY)] today announced that STMicroelectronics [NYSE:STM] has joined the community of licensees of the high-performance ARM® Cortex™-A8 processor. As STMicroelectronics expands its presence in next-generation mobile devices, it intends to deploy the Cortex-A8 processor across its mobile technology portfolio, delivering desktop performance to a wide range of affordable mobile phones and portable multimedia devices. By combining the performance and power benefits of the ARM Cortex-A8 processor with its own multi-faceted Nomadik® multimedia applications processors, STMicroelectronics can deliver advanced performance and functionality to end-users.

Multimedia electronics manufacturers must deliver convergence of content and communications, necessitating higher system performance in a low-power environment. The ARM Cortex-A8 processor enables STMicroelectronics’ customers in the personal multimedia electronics and handset manufacturing space, to deliver more than three times the performance of ARM11™ family-based devices for 3G applications such as mobile gaming, video calling and location-based mapping services.  The Cortex-A8 processor was specifically designed with such services in mind, while still enabling systems designers to meet stringent time-to-market demands.

“The next generation of personal multimedia electronics devices must incorporate advanced functionality, with the processing power needed to drive the rich content demanded by the end-user such as mobile games, video-on-demand, 3G map services and multi-megapixel cameras,” said Jyrki Hannikainen, Application Processor Division general manager, STMicroelectronics. “By combining ARM’s flagship Cortex-A8 processor, with the distributed processing of the Nomadik® multimedia platform, ST will keep delivering truly compelling high performance, and low-power solution to the market.”

The processor is supported by a wide range of ARM technologies for rapid system design including the new RealView® Developer Suite 3.0; CoreSight™ debug and trace technology; and software library support through the OpenMAX multimedia processing standard.

“Our latest Cortex-A8 processor licensing agreement with STMicroelectronics will deliver innovative technologies to market which incorporate high performance and power efficiency in next-generation multimedia electronics devices,” said Mike Inglis, executive vice president, Marketing and Business Development, ARM. “The ARM Cortex-A8 processor and supporting technologies delivers unparalleled levels of performance and energy efficiency in advanced devices, enabling rich content and applications that appeal to the needs of global markets.”

The Cortex-A8 processor is the first applications processor based on the next-generation ARMv7 architecture, and features Thumb®-2 technology for greater performance, energy efficiency, and code density. It includes the first implementation of the powerful NEON™ signal processing extensions to accelerate media codecs such as H.264 and MP3. The Cortex-A8 solution also includes Jazelle®-RCT Java acceleration technology to optimize Just In Time (JIT) and Dynamic Adaptive Compilation (DAC), and reduces memory footprint by up to three times. Additionally, the new processor features TrustZone® technology for secure transactions and Digital Rights Management (DRM), and IEM capability for low power.

The Cortex Family

The three members of the ARM Cortex family all incorporate the Thumb-2 instruction set, and are designed to address the increasing demands of various markets. The three types of ARM Cortex processor are:

• ARM Cortex-A Series: Applications processors for complex OS and user applications
• ARM Cortex-R Series: Embedded processors for real-time systems
• ARM Cortex-M Series: Deeply embedded processors optimized for microcontroller and low-cost applications

Availability

The ARM Cortex-A8 processor is available to license today.

About ARM

ARM designs the technology that lies at the heart of advanced digital products, from mobile, home and enterprise solutions to embedded and emerging applications. ARM’s comprehensive product offering includes 16/32-bit RISC microprocessors, data engines, graphics processors, digital libraries, embedded memories, peripherals, software and development tools, as well as analog functions and high-speed connectivity products. Combined with the company’s broad Partner community, they provide a total system solution that offers a fast, reliable path to market for leading electronics companies. More information on ARM is available at http://www.arm.com.

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