ARC Announces MQX Software Availability for Freescale Semiconductor's ColdFire Processors

ARC MQX software supports key on-chip peripherals including hardware-accelerated encryption, Ethernet, CAN, and USB for security and connectivity applications

SAN JOSE, Calif., September 28, 2004 – ARC International (LSE: ARK) today announced the availability of MQX software for the ColdFire MCF547x/548x, MCF527x, and MCF523x processor families from Freescale Semiconductor. ARC's MQX software provides optimal hardware and software integration for new on-chip peripheral hardware, including Ethernet, USB 2.0 Device, CAN and integrated security engines. MQX software supports the integrated on-chip peripherals of the new ColdFire processors and enables rapid end-product development, optimal performance and supports industry standard technologies.

ARC's royalty-free real-time Industrial Control MQX software platform is targeted at a wide range of industrial applications including smart sensors, robotics, industrial switches, motion and temperature control and building surveillance. ARC's MQX software platform includes MQX RTOS, an optimized TCP/IP networking stack, device drivers, RTOS-aware debugging, performance and profiling tools and a board support package for the relevant Freescale development boards. ARC's key on-chip peripheral support includes:

• Hardware-Accelerated Encryption* with IPShield security software for IPSec, IKE, SSL and SSH protocols using Freescale's integrated on-chip security engine to achieve optimal security performance for DES, Triple DES, AES, SHA-1 and MD-5 security standards.
• Ethernet support with a 10/100 FAST Ethernet controller device driver for implementing networking features such as web servers, e-mail, XML server and remote monitoring.
• CAN support with a CAN device driver and CANopen protocol support.
• USB 2.0 Device Software Developer's Kit including a software stack, a controller-specific driver and example code, all tightly integrated with ARC's MQX RTOS.

ARC's MQX software platform is seamlessly integrated with the Metrowerks CodeWarrior™ Development Studio for ColdFire architectures, allowing developers to speed and accelerating the development of reliable, high performance industrial control and networking products. The Metrowerks studio provides integrated hardware diagnostics for board bring-up, enhanced command windows for complex scripting capabilities and a built-in software profiler for hot spot analysis. CodeWarrior Development studio provides integrated task-aware debugging and monitoring of TCP/IP networking stack objects.

ARC will be demonstrating its MQX software for the MCF5485 processor September 27-30, 2004 at the Smart Networks Developer Forum in Frankfurt, Germany, booth #210.

Availability

ARC MQX software is currently available for the Freescale ColdFire MCF547x/MCF548x, MCF527x and MCF523x processor families. MCF547x/MCF548x peripheral support for CANopen protocol will be available in Q404 with USB 2.0 Device Developer's Kit available Q105. MCF523x peripheral support for hardware-accelerated encryption in IPShield-IPSec will be available in Q105. Support for the ColdFire MCF527x processor family with hardware-accelerated encryption in IPShield-IPSec will be available by Q105. MCF527x peripheral support for USB 2.0 device will be available in Q404. Support for the MCF547x/MCF548x hardware-accelerated encryption in IPShield-IPSec will be available in Q404. Pricing for a single product license of the ARC MQX RTOS starts at $12,500 and is provided in full source code with no royalties. For a complete list of MQX software supporting the ColdFire processors, please visit us at http://www.arc.com/MQX, or contact ARC for more details.

About ARC

ARC International is a world leader in low-power, high-performance 32-bit RISC CPU/DSP configurable processor cores, real-time operating systems and development tools for embedded system design. ARC's configurable, extendible cores assist customers in their rapid development of next generation wireless, networking and consumer electronics systems, resulting in exceptionally competitive System-on-Chip products.

ARC International maintains a worldwide presence with corporate offices in San Jose, California, USA and Elstree, UK. The Company has research and development offices located in England and the United States. For more information please visit the ARC website at: www.ARC.com. ARC International is listed on the London Stock Exchange as ARC International plc (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.

*Encryption accelerator products may be subject to governmental controls.

ARC, the ARC logo, ARCtangent, ARCangel, ARChitect, ARCform, MQX and MetaWare are trademarks of ARC International. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders.