ICC Licenses ARM Core For Its Advanced SoC Platform

First licensing deal between ARM and Chinese government-supported organization helps domestic fabless companies design industry leading SoCs, from concept to final silicon

CAMBRIDGE, UK - May 28, 2003 – ARM [(LSE: ARM); (Nasdaq: ARMHY)], the industry's leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC processor technology, announced today that the Shanghai Research Center for IC Design (ICC) has licensed the industry-leading ARM7TDMI® core. The agreement represents the first licensing of an ARM® core by a Chinese government-supported organization and highlights ARM's continued commitment to advancing China's rapidly developing electronics sector.

The Shanghai Research Center for IC Design – the first National Integrated Circuit Design Industrialization Center - was founded in 2000. Designated as an IC hub, the Shanghai Research Center for IC Design provides advanced electronic design automation (EDA) tools, RTL QA and support for China's small and medium fabless companies to design SoC solutions on site.

"The Shanghai Research Center for IC Design has decided to standardize on the ARM architecture as the core for its SoC platform," said Ye Wang, vice president of the Shanghai IC Center. "Our partnership with ARM, together with the excellent relationship we have with a number of ARM Approved Foundries, will enable small and medium fabless companies in China to design industry-leading ARM core-based SoCs, from concept to final silicon."

"Shanghai Research Center for IC Design is an important part of National Circuits Design Industrialization Centers," said Jun Tan, president, ARM China. "By using the Shanghai IC Center as a hub, a wide range of companies, especially small- and medium-sized companies in China, will be able to easily access our leading edge Intellectual Property (IP). Furthermore, the design work will be carried out on site with ARM providing advanced technical support."

"Through this agreement, ARM will provide its IP cores to a broad range of customers and a wide variety of applications – from set-top boxes, to wireless products and PDAs. This will help to establish our architecture as the technology of choice for SoC prototyping and design in China," added Tan.

Availability

The ARM7TDMI core-based SoC platform is available now for licensing through Shanghai Research Center for IC Design and ARM.

About Shanhgai Research Center for IC Design (ICC)

Shanghai National Integrated Circuit Design Industrialization Center is the first specialized IC design industrialization center in China. It was set up and authorized by Science & Technology Ministry, PRC and Shanghai Municipality on 21st, Feb, 2000. The Center provides the following services: IC talents training & evaluation, MPW, EDA tools, RTL QA, testing verification and information. The Center supports and serves the enterprises in it, meanwhile radiates services for the development of IC industry in the whole China mainland, especially in Yangtze Delta Area. For more information, please visit http://www.icc.sh.cn.

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 http://www.arm.com

ARM and ARM7TDMI are registered trademarks of ARM Limited. "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 Consulting (Shanghai) Co.Ltd.