ARC Targets Industrial Control Market with Highly Integrated Embedded Software Platform

ARC Platform reduces development time, improves quality and reliability and reduces development cost
SAN JOSE, Calif. March 30, 2004 –ARC International (LSE: ARK) today announced the availability of its royalty-free, real-time Industrial Control Embedded Software Platform, targeted at a wide range of industrial applications including smart sensors, robotics, industrial switches, motion and temperature control and building surveillance. The new ARC embedded software platform integrates ARC's MQX™ Real-Time Operating System (RTOS), standards-based connectivity including CAN, TCP/IP, and USB, a graphical user interface library and a rich internet package including Web Server and Email protocols, all seamlessly integrated with the powerful Metrowerks® CodeWarrior™ Development Environment including a compiler, debugger, IDE and simulator. The new platform provides open system standard interfaces and enables new technologies required by the industrial control market segment eliminating repetitive development and tedious integration efforts.

Through strategic relationships with Motorola® and Metrowerks, ARC delivers a foundation solution for popular processors commonly targeted by Industrial Control applications, such as the Motorola ColdFire™ processor family and the MPC5200 PowerPC® processor. As Motorola continues to deliver more powerful and advanced hardware to the Industrial Control segment, the complexity of embedded software applications increases. Integration of the software with the hardware becomes more critical to allow developers to focus on innovation and product differentiation. The close relationship between Motorola and Metrowerks assures the timely release of software supporting the advanced technology integrated on-chip in tandem with the release of new hardware. Furthermore, ARC's simple, royalty-free license model gives Industrial Control manufacturers increased budget control.

"ARC is committed to delivering products and services that our customers need. With our deep expertise in our target markets we are able to develop application platforms that enable our customers to be more effective. ," said Jeri Ann May, ARC Marketing Director. "The Industrial Control market demands open standard-based interfaces to enable portability and interconnectivity. These tough demands are easily met with our new embedded Industrial Control software platform."

Pricing and Availability
ARC's Industrial Control Software Platform supporting the Motorola ColdFire processor family and the MPC5200 processor is available immediately from ARC, Metrowerks and Metrowerks' distributors. Support for the Motorola MCF547x/548x ColdFire processors will be available starting in late Q2 2004 and is being demonstrated in ARC and Motorola's booth at Electronica-USA. Pricing for a single product license of the ARC software starts at $12,500 and is provided in full source code with no royalties.


About ARC
ARC International is a worldwide provider of high quality software and knowledge for developers of embedded systems who are looking to reduce the time, effort and cost of bringing their products to market. ARC's portfolio of integrated software, featuring the MetaWare® development tools and MQX™, a royalty-free real-time operating system (RTOS) provided in full source code, operates on many popular processors, and includes excellent technical support. Streamlined for application development in industrial control, networking, consumer and storage markets, ARC's software solutions allow customers to succeed at meeting their goal for on-time and on-budget product development.

With technology based on more than 20 years of embedded expertise, ARC was the first company to integrate processors, development tools, peripherals, RTOS and connectivity solutions. The inventor of user-configurable 32-bit RISC processing and a leader in configurable System-on-Chip (SoC) platform technologies, ARC provides the tools and knowledge to help customers manage the increasing complexity of system-level design. Please visit www.arc.com to learn more about ARC International (LSE: ARK).

This press release may include "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ are discussed in the 'Investment Considerations' section of the Company's web site as well as the listing particulars, dated 28 September 2000, filed with the United Kingdom Listing Authority and the Registrar of Companies in England and Wales.  The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. ARC, the ARC logo, ARCtangent, MetaWare, Precis/MQX and Precise/RTCS are trademarks of ARC International. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders.