Siport Adopts ARC's Patented Configurable CPU and DSP Technologies for Next-Generation Multimedia Applications

ELSTREE, England, Dec. 14, 2005 - ARC International (LSE: ARK) the world leader in configurable CPU/DSP processor cores and application subsystems, today announced that Siport has taken a license for multiple ARCTM 32-bit configurable CPU and DSP cores. After an extensive evaluation of several “configurable core” vendors, Siport chose ARC because of its leadership position and the cost savings it provides SoC developers due to small gate count and low power consumption of its configurable processors.

“Siport is another example of how ARC’s patented configurable technology is becoming the choice for cost-sensitive multimedia applications,” said Derek Meyer, senior vice president of sales and marketing for ARC International. “Increasingly, ARC’s CPU/DSP cores are winning against products from fixed architecture and other configurable CPU vendors. Our unified programming environment eliminates the need for hardwired logic, which reduces the size and overall cost of an ARC-Based chip. Furthermore, by offering the customer the ability to remove unneeded functionality from the core while maintaining software compatibility, the resulting solution is highly optimized to the end application. We welcome Siport to the growing list of more than 100 ARC licensees and look forward to supporting their ongoing efforts to deliver products to the consumer market”

About ARC’s Patented Configurable SoC Technology
ARC’s configurable technology enables SoC designers to create highly differentiated silicon that is optimized to the end application. ARC-Based™ SoCs have an optimal balance of speed, area and power, and generally are smaller, lower power and therefore less expensive than SoCs developed using fixed architecture CPUs.

Using ARC’s configurable technology SoC designers can define custom extensions to accelerate critical code, resulting in greater application efficiency and a proprietary solution that is wholly owned by its inventor. ARC cores also offer powerful DSP instruction extensions through the ARC XY Advanced DSP subsystem, which can eliminate the need for external logic and DSP blocks on an SoC.

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 patented configurable CPU technology assists 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).