ARC International and Tao Group Provide the Lowest Power Java Solution for Embedded Devices

ARC and Tao Set Industry Record on Performance/Power for CaffeineMarks

ELSTREE, England, May 9, 2005 - System-on-chip (SoC) designers of portable consumer devices now can maximize Java efficiency with the best performance-to-power ratio of any 32-bit processor core.1 ARC International (LSE: ARK) and Tao Group today announced that using the intent Java™ platform, an ARC 625D core achieved an out-of-the-box score of 104 CaffeineMarks/mW. The benchmark of CaffeineMarks per milliWatt measures Java performance per unit of power consumed by a system’s CPU.

The benchmark test was run on ARC's 625D core without using special Java acceleration hardware. The resulting power and performance metrics are superior to those being reported by competing processor companies.

Tao's intent Java platform is embedded into millions of consumer devices, manufactured by some of the world's leading device manufacturers. It supports multiple set-top box and handset standards, as well as JTWI and many extensions including Java game acceleration.

	CM/MHz	mW/MHz	CM/mW
ARC 625D	8.3	0.08	104
ARM 926EJ-S1	6.0	0.35	17
MIPS 24Kc1	7.5	0.58	13

ARC 625D core numbers are worst-case results for base configuration, excluding memory. No special Java extensions were incorporated to achieve the ARC 625D core numbers. ARM 926EJ-S core numbers are for a 0.13 micron process at 1.08V, 125C, slow silicon, excluding memory. ARM's 926EJ-S core includes Jazelle hardware acceleration. MIPS 24Kc core numbers are for a 0.13 micron process at 1.2V, excluding memory.

NOTE 1 All data is accurate as of the date of this press release and derived from publicly available sources, such as company Websites.

Tao's software-based intent media platform offers a high performance, flexible solution, that minimizes power requirements for portable ARC-Based™ embedded devices. The unique binary portability of the intent platform means one code base, irrespective of deployment environment. The combination of Tao's intent Java platform with an ARC 600 family core is ideal for a wide range of consumer electronics devices, including mobile phones, PDAs, digital televisions and in-car entertainment systems.

Dr. Paddy Byers, Chief Technology Officer for Tao Group said, "The performance and power consumption requirements of today's mobile devices encourage a holistic approach to the design process. The results achieved on the ARC core are further testimony to the fact that compiled Java solutions offer clear performance and cost benefits. ARC's configurable processor technology is truly gaining momentum in the consumer electronics market and we are pleased to provide state-of-the-art Java solutions to ARC’s growing list of distinguished customers."

"By partnering with industry leaders such as Tao, ARC continues to offer customers unique solutions that meet the stringent design requirements of a broad range of consumer devices," said Derek Meyer, vice president of marketing at ARC International. "Using Tao's intent platform with an ARC 600 family core, SoC designers can attain high Java performance at extremely low levels of power consumption. Because this can be achieved without additional hardwired logic, customers can dramatically reduce the size and overall cost of their ARC-Based chip."

Mark Herring, senior director of Java Marketing for Sun Microsystems, added, "We're excited to see the continued proliferation of Java technology through collaborations such as this. The true winner of the Tao Group and ARC International relationship is the end user, who benefits from new and cool applications of Java technology."

Tao Group's intent Java Platform

As a fully Sun-certified supplier of Java technology, Tao is renowned for delivering the fastest Java solution in the market and is fully compliant to Java Community Process standards. Tao’s intent Java VM software achieves an impressive figure of 8.33 CaffeineMarks per MHz for Java ByteCode execution on Tao's CLDC1.1 VM. In addition the Tao CLDC1.1/MIDP2.0 Java implementation can be demonstrated in tandem with the intent multimedia platform, incorporating graphics, audio and streaming technologies beyond Java’s capabilities.

ARC 625D Configurable Core

The ARC™ 625D processor core is a full-featured, mid-range embedded core with best-in-class speed, die area and power characteristics. It is designed to enable licensees to develop complete processor solutions for SoCs targeted at consumer, networking, automotive and other cost-sensitive markets. The core's flexible, configurable memory architecture makes it ideal for RTOS-based applications. Powerful DSP options enable it to perform more functions, eliminating separate logic or DSP blocks from the SoC. Optionally, custom instruction extensions may be incorporated to achieve application performance levels unattainable with fixed architecture cores.

Availability

Tao Group’s intent Java platform optimized for an ARC processor core is available from Tao Group.

About ARC International plc

ARC International is the world leader in low-power, high-performance 32-bit configurable CPU/DSP processor cores, subsystems, real-time operating systems and development tools for embedded system design. ARC's configurable and extendible cores assist customers in the development of next generation digital media, consumer and communications devices, resulting in lower cost, higher performance SoC 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).

About Tao Group

Tao has developed intent®, a functionally rich multimedia platform now used by many of the world’s leading mobile networks, OEMs and ODMs in their digital client products for mobile and home networks. intent allows them to provide music, gaming and Java services enabled by Tao's industry-leading spot solutions, or they can deliver a single content and software infrastructure strategy across all of their platforms, irrespective of operating system, hardware and function. intent, with more than 10 million licensed sales to date, is now being used in products including mobile phones, PDAs, cameras, home servers and digital television. The Company, headquartered in Reading, England with offices in Chicago, Il.. and Yokosuka, Japan, has agents in Taipei, Seoul, Tokyo and Yokohama. Tao’s financial investors include funds managed by Cross Atlantic Capital Partners, with offices in Philadelphia, Dublin and Edinburgh. Technology corporations that have invested into Tao include NEC, Sony, Motorola, Sharp and Kyocera. Tao, a Red Herring Europe 100 company in 2005, has a growing and high value, global patent portfolio and is the recipient of multiple industry awards, including BAFTAs in 2001 and 2005 and the Computing IT Gold Award. intent is the ratified platform of choice for the Open Contents Platform Association (OCPA).

ARC, the ARC logo and ARC-Based are trademarks or registered trademarks of ARC International. intent is a registered trademark of Tao Group Ltd. All other brands or product names contained herein are the property of their respective owners. This press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For factors that could cause actual results to differ, visit the company’s website as well as the listing particulars filed with the United Kingdom Listing Authority and the Registrar of Companies in England and Wales.