Agere Systems Licences ARM Cores For Use In Communications Applications

New licence agreement includes ARM1026EJ-S core, further strengthening commitment to ARM architecture

CAMBRIDGE, UK -- July 30, 2002 – ARM [(LSE: ARM); (Nasdaq: ARMHY)], the industry's leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC microprocessor solutions, today announced that Agere Systems (NYSE: AGR.A, AGR.B), the world leader in communications components, has extended its relationship with ARM by licensing three high-performance cores. Agere has licensed the ARM1026EJ-S™ core, the ARM920T™ core and the ARM926EJ-S™ core for use in its next-generation system-on-chip (SoC) solutions for mobile phones and communications networking equipment.

This licensing agreement reinforces ARM's strong presence in the networking integrated circuit (IC) market where Agere is a market leader. Using the ARM1026EJ-S core, Agere plans to deliver high-performance, open architecture SoC platforms for applications such as enterprise data networks, wireless system infrastructure, and broadband wide-area network infrastructure. The ARM1026EJ-S core implements 64-bit internal bussing, dual configurable 32/64-bit AMBA® interfaces, and a 64-bit coprocessor interface to deliver exceptional processing bandwidth for data intensive applications.

"By licensing the ARM1026EJ-S core, Agere is demonstrating its commitment to providing customers with the latest in high-performance microprocessor technology," said Jon Fields, vice president of Agere's Design Platform Organization. "Tomorrow's complex communications networking applications require solutions which this latest generation of ARM® technology helps enable."

"Agere has impressive levels of communications expertise and a proven track record of delivering ARM core-based solutions for a wide variety of applications," said Bruce Beckloff, networking segment manager with ARM. "The combination of Agere's application skills with the high-performance and flexibility of the ARM1026EJ-S core in 'real world' operations will deliver a new breed of networking solutions."

Agere has a long-standing relationship with ARM and has previously licensed other ARM technology, including the ARM7DTMI® core, the ARM9E™ core, the ARM9TDMI™ core, and the ARM940T™ core, as well as derivatives of those cores, for a variety of IC offerings. Agere was a lead partner for the ARM10™ core family development and the first company to fabricate the ARM10 core family in silicon.

The ARM1026EJ-S core is a fully synthesizable core featuring the ARM Jazelle™ technology for Java™ acceleration. The core is based on the ARMv5TE architecture and also includes the Thumb® architecture, DSP extensions and support for the VFP10™ vector floating-point coprocessor and ETM10RV™ Embedded Trace Macrocell. Extensive 64-bit internal bussing is combined with configurable instruction and data caches, configurable tightly coupled memories (TCM), support for parity protection on SRAM arrays, memory management and protection units (MMU and MPU) and dual 32/64-bit configurable AMBA AHB system interfaces.

The ARM1026EJ-S core has been optimized for performance by using a large cross-section of real-world code, including all five of the EEMBC benchmark suites, and is an ideal choice for complex and innovative SoC networking applications requiring high-performance and ultra low-power consumption.

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-chip 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

ARM, ARM7TDMI, Thumb and AMBA are registered trademarks of ARM Limited. ARM9E, ARM9TDMI, ARM920T, ARM926EJ-S, ARM940T, ARM1026EJ-S, Jazelle, VFP10 and ETM10RV 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.