ARM Announces Continued Collaboration With SMIC With License Of ARM922T Core for SoC Technologies

CAMBRIDGE, UK – Mar. 24, 2004 – ARM [(LSE: ARM) (Nasdaq: ARMHY)], the industry’s leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC processor solutions, today announced that Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), one of China’s most advanced pure-play semiconductor foundries, has licensed the ARM922T™ microprocessor core and the Embedded Trace Macrocell™ (ETM9™) on-chip debug peripheral.  The ARM922T core is the second microprocessor core that SMIC has licensed from ARM, underscoring the Shanghai-based foundry’s commitment to the ARM® architecture, and ARM’s commitment to the Chinese semiconductor industry.

The ARM922T core will enable SMIC to service local demand for production of ARM core-based microprocessors, offering access to SMIC’s IC foundry services with proven abilities in the manufacture of ARM core-based devices. This proximity will enable Chinese fabless semiconductor companies to decrease the time-to-market of system-on-chip (SoC) technologies that employ the high performance and low-power functionality of the ARM922T core.  Semiconductor companies will also benefit from the shortened design cycle facilitated by the comprehensive debug and trace facilities of the ETM9 module.

“ARM is dedicated to supporting current and potential Chinese customers who seek to create innovative SoC technologies. The expansion of SMIC’s portfolio of ARM offerings and its continued commitment to the ARM architecture ensure that these semiconductor companies have a variety of options to suit varied design needs,” said Jun Tan, president, ARM China. “Our relationship with SMIC has grown quickly and we look forward to further strengthening the collaboration in the coming years.”

“Our participation in the ARM Foundry Program enables us to offer our customers flexible manufacturing solutions for a faster time-to-market and a competitive advantage. This strengthens our position as one of the leading supplier of semiconductor manufacturing services in China,” said Dr. James Sung, VP of Marketing & Sales, SMIC. “The expansion of our ARM offerings with the addition of the ARM922T core further improves our ability to support a variety of design requirements.”

The ARM922T hard macrocell is suitable for a wide range of platform OS-based applications. Based on the high-performance ARM9TDMI® 32-bit RISC CPU, the ARM922T core features instruction and data caches, and a memory management unit (MMU), enabling support for all major operating systems (OS), AMBA™ bus-compliant interfaces, and support for the ARM real-time trace technology with the ETM9 module. The ETM9 real-time trace module, is capable of instruction and data tracing inside a core and is an integral part of the ARM RealView® development tools.

Availability
ARM922T core-based Design Kits, targeted to the SMIC process technology, is targeted to be available for license from ARM by the end of Q1 2004. SMIC is targeted to have the silicon-proven cores available by Q3 2004.

About ARM Foundry Program
The ARM Foundry Program is an innovative business model that enables fabless semiconductor companies in emerging markets to gain access to ARM processor technology, for use in the design and manufacture of advanced system-on-chip (SoC) solutions. The Foundry Program builds a three-way partnership between ARM, an approved silicon foundry, and a fabless semiconductor company that accelerates the time-to-market for ARM core-based designs and enables OEMs without access to fabrication facilities, to work directly with an approved ARM semiconductor foundryARM now offers the ARM926EJ™ Prime Starter Kit, (combined ARM926EJ core, PrimeXsys™ Platform and Embedded Trace Macrocell module), the ARM7TDMI® core, the ARM922T core, the ARM946E™ core and the ARM1022E™ core through its Foundry Program.

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.

ENDS

ARM, ARM7TDMI, ARM9TDMI and RealView are registered trademarks of ARM Limited. ARM922T, ARM926EJ, ARM946E, ARM1022E, Embedded Trace Macrocell, ETM9, AMBA and PrimeXsys are 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; ARM Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.; and ARM Belgium N.V.