ARC Rides Embedded Linux Wave into Home Media Servers and Converged Mobile Handsets

New Open Source Software Program Assures Fastest Delivery, Best Service, And World-Class Support for Linux and GNU Environments 

ST. ALBANS, England -- November 15, 2007 - ARC International today announced a new business model for open source software used on its lines of configurable CPU cores and multimedia subsystems.  ARC is optimizing, delivering, and directly supporting versions of Embedded Linux 2.6, and GNU tools based on GCC 4.2 and future versions.  Now ARC customers can access the latest versions of open source software and direct support from the people who are the best at developing software for ARC platforms.  These technologies can be used in combination with the growing amount of application specific middleware and software based on the GNU/Linux platform.

Open source software is being increasingly adopted by manufacturers of high volume consumer devices.  It provides a low-cost and open platform for application software development that leverages the wealth of solutions continuously being created by the growing open source community worldwide.  Through its Open Source Software Program, ARC will provide customers with regularly scheduled releases to ensure ARC distributions of open source software stay current with the latest versions and enhancements.

Derek Meyer, chief operating officer of ARC International, said, "There is an increasing trend by semiconductor companies to leverage the benefits of the GNU/Linux environment for software development.  This is particularly evident in applications such as personal media players, set top boxes, and mobile phones, as well as with SoC designers throughout Asia.  ARC's new Open Source Software Program responds to these market opportunities as well as to customer demand for integrated solutions based upon ARC's configurable cores and multimedia subsystems. 

Market Momentum Driving Linux  

Manufacturers of "converged mobile devices"-mobile handsets having an embedded operating system-prefer GNU/Linux environment because of the low cost of development, flexible licensing, and wealth of available application level and middleware software.  In a market report published April 2007, IMS Research concluded that all tier one mobile phone manufacturers are "involved with Linux on some level.  

ARC's Open Source Software Program

Members of ARC's Open Source Software Program can download supported and maintained distributions of Embedded Linux and GNU tools directly from the ARC customer support website.  ARC also will make these updates available to the open source community.  Benefits to customers include:

• Access to open source software distributions developed and maintained by ARC for ARC processor cores and subsystems
• Direct support of ARC open source software distributions by ARC's customer support team
• Early access to new ARC open source releases
• ARC specific binary releases, utilities and applications
• ARC specific documentation and support

Availability

The ARC Open Source Software Program membership is now available to ARC customers for an annual fee.  Embedded Linux and GNU tools for ARC processors and subsystems are now available to all customers.  

About ARC International plc

ARC International is the world leader in configurable media subsystems and CPU/DSP processors.  Used by over 140 companies worldwide, ARC's configurable solutions enable the creation of highly differentiated system-on-chips (SoCs) that ship in hundreds of millions of devices annually.  ARC's patented subsystems and cores are smaller, consume less power, and are less expensive to manufacture than competing products.

ARC International maintains a worldwide presence with corporate and research and development offices in Silicon Valley and St. Albans, UK.  For more information visit www.ARC.com.  ARC International is listed on the London Stock Exchange as ARC International plc (LSE: ARK).

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