Stepmind Licenses ARM Core For Network Data Encryption Applications

Cambridge, UK and Boulogne-BILLANCOURT, France – Sept. 9, 2002 – ARM [(LSE:ARM) (Nasdaq:ARMHY)], the industry's leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC microprocessor solutions, and Stepmind, today announced that Stepmind has licensed the ARM946E™ microprocessor core for use in a custom networking encryption project. Stepmind has expertise in designs based on the ARM7™ and ARM 9™ microprocessor families, within the wireless and the networking markets, together with strong digital and RF capabilities including encryption associated with wireless networking standards such as 802.11.

In 2000, Stepmind licensed ARM® PrimeCell® peripherals and the AMBA® Design Kit. ARM PrimeCell peripherals are re-usable soft IP macrocells developed to enable the rapid assembly of system-on-chip (SoC) designs. The AMBA Design Kit is a versatile toolkit aimed at enabling the successful creation of AMBA technology-based components and SoC designs. Stepmind is also a member of ATAP™, the ARM technology access program.

This complex design has been created by Stepmind using the most up-to-date design and automation capabilities. The chip is based on an ARM946E core, with two Ethernet 100 interfaces, optimized security and encryption hardwire processing engines, and an original bus and memory management unit architecture, enabling the world's first flow-through network security processor.

"Security is now one of the major concerns for companies and consumers alike as users share more and more confidential information, in areas such as online shopping downloading documents," said Eric Lalardie, Southern Region manager, ARM. "Stepmind's use of the ARM946E core which delivers very good cryptographic performance versus cost efficiency, demonstrates the adaptability of ARM microprocessor cores for a multitude of applications, but most importantly highlights the growing use of ARM cores for networking and security solutions."

"ARM microprocessor cores are well known for delivering exceptionally high performance with low power consumption and the performance and size of the ARM946E core makes it ideal for applications where encryption and security are paramount," said Alain Jolivet, chairman and CEO of Stepmind. "Great technology such as the ARM946E core, combined with Stepmind's strong experience in designing security solutions for wired and wireless networking markets, will ultimately give our customers a very high-performance product for network data security."

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 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.

About Stepmind SA
Founded in July 2000, STEPMIND operates in the field of Wireless High Speed Data. STEPMIND develops and designs integrated circuits in the field of RF transceivers and baseband according to the GSM/GPRS/EDGE, IEEE 802.11a and HiperLAN2 standards. This expanding design house will also market complete solutions, including software, for RF data link modules complying with IEEE 802.11a and HiperLAN2 wireless standards.

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ARM, PrimeCell and AMBA are registered trademarks of ARM Limited. ARM7, ARM9, ARM946E and ATAP 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 France SAS; and ARM China.