MIPS Technologies Enters 32-bit Microcontroller Market
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MIPS Technologies Enters 32-bit Microcontroller Market

Company to Offer Largest One-Stop-Shop for Broad Range of Processor and Analog Peripheral IP

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Oct. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MIPS Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: MIPS), a leading provider of industry-standard processor architectures and cores for digital consumer, networking, personal entertainment, communications and business applications, announced its entry into the burgeoning, performance-driven 32-bit microcontroller (MCU) market. With a broad array of processor cores and a comprehensive, diverse library of proven analog IP blocks gained through its recent acquisition of analog IP leader Chipidea, MIPS Technologies has the largest offering of both processor and peripheral IP from a single supplier -- providing customers with a total system solution for 32-bit MCU applications.

According to Tony Massimini, chief of technology, Semico Research, "Unit volumes of 32-bit MCUs are growing rapidly, especially for sophisticated automotive, consumer and industrial applications that require more processing power and larger memory capacities. With increasing demand for more complex encryption and decryption for security applications, more performance for improved automotive safety and engine management, and additional integration and connectivity across all MCU applications, we expect the market will continue to grow. With its industry standard 32-bit architecture, robust development environment and tools, and rich ecosystem, MIPS Technologies is well positioned for this market."

As the industry transitions from 8- and 16-bit to 32-bit microcontrollers, designers require not only increased functionality, but also a wide array of peripherals, including high-performance IP such as USB and audio codecs. Growing demand for analog functions in MCUs represents a significant opportunity for an IP provider with a combined analog/digital offering. With the combination of processor and peripheral IP, MIPS Technologies can now offer a complete system solution and one-stop-shop for microcontroller designs.

"As an IP supplier to the embedded market, MIPS Technologies participates across the entire market, now addressing the needs of the highest-volume segment," said Jack Browne, vice president of marketing, MIPS Technologies. "We are also enabling the fabless model for MCUs by offering a complete solution of digital I/O and cores, analog I/O, debug and development tools and superior ecosystem support for RTOS. New market drivers and MIPS' broad system offering make it a perfect time for us to enter the 32-bit market to help designers meet the requirements of next-generation MCUs."

The MIPS Technologies family of cores enables seamless migration from 8- and 16-bit to 32-bit MCUs, with hardware and software development tools to mitigate the development task and reduce time-to-market. Customers can leverage MIPS Technologies' general-purpose processor cores from the low-power MIPS32(R) M4K(R) core -- which provides 32-bit performance at an 8-bit cost -- up to the high-performance MIPS32(R) 24K(R) family, depending on specific applications. A wide range of configurable features allows designers to optimize a core's performance while reducing die size, power consumption and total system cost.

About MIPS Technologies

MIPS Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: MIPS) is a leading provider of industry-standard processor architectures and cores for digital consumer, networking, personal entertainment, communications and business applications. The company drives the broadest architectural alliance that delivers 32- and 64-bit embedded RISC solutions to the embedded market, and in combination with its licensees, offers the widest range of robust, scalable processors in standard, custom, semi-custom and application-specific products worldwide. MIPS Technologies currently owns more than 400 patent properties (patents and applications) worldwide and licenses its intellectual property to today's leading semiconductor companies, ASIC developers and system OEMs.

Today, MIPS-Based(TM) designs are integrated in millions of products around the world, including broadband devices from Linksys, digital cameras from Canon, DTVs and entertainment systems from Sony, DVD Recordable devices from Pioneer, digital set-top boxes from Motorola, network routers from Cisco and laser printers from Hewlett-Packard. Founded in 1998, MIPS Technologies is based in Mountain View, California, with offices worldwide. For more information, please contact (650) 567-5000 or visit http://www.mips.com.

MIPS, MIPS32, M4K, MIPS-Based and 24K are trademarks or registered trademarks in the United States and other countries of MIPS Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks referred to herein are the property of their respective owners.

Web site: http://www.mips.com/