Western Cable Wired 2K Show Features Numerous MIPS-Based(TM) Systems: MIPS-Based Processors Power Over 70 Percent of Digital Entertainment Devices

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Western Cable Wired 2K Show Features Numerous MIPS-Based(TM) Systems: MIPS-Based Processors Power Over 70 Percent of Digital Entertainment Devices

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 15 -- MIPS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: MIPS) today announced that several new advanced digital set-top box systems powered by the MIPS® architecture were demonstrated at this year's Western Cable Wired 2K show in Los Angeles. The show, a showcase for the latest in digital entertainment systems and especially digital cable set-top boxes, highlighted the preference system OEMs have for the MIPS 32-bit and 64-bit processor architectures. Systems from General Instrument, Replay TV, and others reflect the market trend towards greater performance and flexibility. These trends have resulted in MIPS-based processors powering more than 70 percent of the digital entertainment market for embedded RISC processors.

A key to this year's show is the diverse range of systems that are reshaping the digital entertainment market. Driven by the technical evolution from analog to digital, the home TV-based marketplace is being revolutionized by new systems providing new interactive features. These systems depend upon high performance, low power and low cost processors to drive new interactive user interfaces and provide features such as Internet access, email, interactive games, and pay-for-view services.

``This show highlights the trends toward greater performance, system-on-chip integration and flexibility in implementation,'' says Derek Meyer, vice president of field operations at MIPS Technologies. ``The MIPS Technologies 'Open Innovation Model' gives the OEM the freedom to customize the architecture and obtain tailored products. OEMs can choose from a number of application focused reference designs, over 60 off-the-shelf processor solutions, many different integrated ASIC solutions, multiple embedded processor cores from MIPS Technologies and other licensees and can even license the Instruction Set Architecture itself for incorporation into custom processors. No other embedded processor IP is available in so many ways.''

``This is exactly why digital entertainment system OEMs such as General Instrument, Pace Micro Technology, Philips, Sony and the semiconductor manufacturers that supply them such as ATI Research, Broadcom, ESS Technology, LSI Logic, NEC, and QED, are turning to MIPS-based(TM) processors to power them,'' says Brian Knowles, vice president of marketing at MIPS Technologies. ``According to Semico and other industry analysts, MIPS-based IP is driving over 70 percent of the digital entertainment devices.''

General Instrument's newest product, the DCT-5000+ advanced interactive set-top, is being shown in GI booth #1401 in the South Hall. The DCT-5000+ uses an embedded MIPS-based 64-bit processor from NEC to provide new levels of advanced interactive broadband services including the delivery of rich Internet-based content like full-motion video and high-quality audio. With a MIPS-based 64-bit processor, 32-bit 3D graphics engine, integrated DOCSIS-compliant cable modem, and large memory cache, the DCT-5000+ delivers PC-like power and functionality to the home theater experience. Dynamic Digital Depth, Inc. showcased 3D cable television delivered through the DCT 5000+. DDD's DeepSee(TM) technology is integrated into GI's advanced digital set top terminal and decodes the 3D data when a viewer chooses to watch in 3D. Scalable MIPS-based processor IP makes it possible for OEMs such as GI to develop both high-end and low-end systems using the same basic design and retarget them to high performance and low-cost version of the system.

Broadcom, another key MIPS Technologies licensee and the world leader in cable modems, demonstrated its recently announced BCM3350 cable modem with integrated MIPS microprocessor. Broadcom used the MIPS ``Open Innovation Model'' to develop its own tailored high performance MIPS32(TM) processor core that insures software compatibility with discrete MIPS implementations. In its booth, #1608, Broadcom also showed other MIPS-based set-top box chipsets, including the BCM7014 and BCM3010.

Replay Networks displayed its MIPS-based Personal Video Recorder in Booth #401. The real-time video recorder is powered by a Philips Semiconductors R3000-class processor. The system provides on-demand personalized channels, the ability to pause live TV, MPEG2 compression, multispeed rewind and fast forward, instant replay, simultaneous record and play functions, integrated on-screen channel guides, and supports multiple video inputs.

Microsoft WebTV demonstrated the latest versions of its Internet-enabled set-top box system in Booth #2311. Microsoft, who recently announced that General Instrument would be the first company to integrate streaming Internet audio and video technology to a TV set-top box using Microsoft® TV software, is highlighting a range of software initiatives that aim to turn Internet-enabled set-top boxes like WebTV into true interactive television. WebTV partners such as RespondTV, who will be showing their software at the show, have been demonstrating one-to-one personalization and two-exchange to broadcast media. This greatly enhances the capabilities of advanced digital set-top boxes based on the MIPS processor architecture. Other WebTV partners such as MyInternetDesktop.com are using WebTV Plus to provide PC-like services to users. MyInternetDesktop.com is a free Web-based desktop with 30 Mbytes of hard drive space and a suite of online applications for business and personal tasks.

LSI Logic, one of the first MIPS licensees, showed its SC2000 Set-top Box reference platform, the SDP2000. It integrates into a single chip the functions of the DVB transport and MPEG-2 A/V decoding, a 2D graphics engine, a multi-standard video encoder, audio DACs and a TinyRISC® processor. A key feature is its ability to execute Java-based applications in the consumer-oriented set-top box environment

ATI Research, one of the latest MIPS licensees, demonstrated its new set-top box chipset in its booth, #4606. This new chipset is targeted to high performance, 3D graphics-intensive systems that provide interactive play as well as traditional set-top box features. ``MIPS-based processor performance married with high-performance 3D graphics processing provides the high-octane headroom needed for the next generation digital set-top box,'' says Joe Zeh, vice president and general manager, ATI Research Inc. ``The reason we chose to license the MIPS processor IP was the ability to customize the architecture for our exact performance requirements.''

ESS Technology, Inc. discussed its plans for a new digital set-top box system, powered by MIPS processor IP. ``Our roadmap for the digital entertainment systems of the future demands highly integrated system-on-chip solutions powered by high-performance processors,'' points out ESS Chairman of the Board, Fred Chan. ``We intend to use MIPS-based processors because they offer the highest performance and flexibility.''

Teralogic showcased the Cougar Development Platform in its technology suite at the Westin Bonaventure. Powered by a MIPS R5000-class 64-bit processor from QED, Inc., it enables the rapid deployment of set-top boxes and digital TV sets that use worldwide DTV standards. It is compliant with all 18 ATSC formats, ARIB, DVD, DSS, and the OpenCable(TM) standards.

About MIPS Technologies, Inc.

MIPS Technologies, Inc. is the world's primary architect of embedded 32- and 64-bit RISC processors. The company drives the broadest architectural alliance that is delivering 32- and 64-bit embedded RISC solutions. The company licenses its intellectual property to semiconductor manufacturing companies, ASIC developers, and system OEMs. MIPS Technologies, Inc. and its licensees offer the widest range of robust, scalable processors in standard, custom, semi-custom and application-specific products.

Licensees currently include: Alchemy Microprocessor Design Group; ATI Technology, Inc.; Broadcom Corporation; Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, Inc.; CommQuest (IBM); ESS Technology, Inc.; General Instrument Corporation; Integrated Device Technology, Inc. (IDT); Lara Technology; LSI Logic Corporation; Macronix; NEC Corporation; NKK Corporation; Philips Semiconductors; Quantum Effect Devices (QED); SandCraft, Inc.; Sony Corporation; SiByte, Inc.; Synova, Inc.; Texas Instruments Incorporated and Toshiba Corporation. Numerous companies utilize MIPS-based(TM) intellectual property. MIPS Technologies, Inc. is based in Mountain View, California, and can be reached at 650-567-5000 or http://www.mips.com.

NOTE: MIPS-based is a trademark and MIPS is a registered trademark of MIPS Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies. All press materials are available on the World Wide Web via: http://www.mips.com.
 

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