NEC and MIPS Technologies Announce Windows CE Operating System Support for 64-Bit Microprocessors

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 8, 2001-- Reflecting increased market acceptance of high-performance, power-efficient 64-bit embedded processors, NEC Corporation (Nasdaq: NIPNY) and its semiconductor affiliate in the United States, NEC Electronics Inc., and MIPS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: MIPS, MIPSB - ) today announced that the new Microsoft® Windows® CE ``Talisker'' Beta 2 operating system includes 64-bit support. Microsoft announced the availability of ``Talisker'' Beta 2 on August 13, 2001. Jointly sponsored by the three companies, the latest version of Windows CE will take full advantage of the capabilities of NEC's high-performance embedded line of 64-bit MIPS-based(TM) processors. ``Talisker'' Beta 2 technology is also fully compatible with the industry's only licensable 64-bit embedded processor architecture and cores available from MIPS Technologies.

``The demand for high-performing Windows-Powered multimedia devices continues to grow, and Microsoft, NEC and MIPS Technologies are committed to providing the technology to meet this need,'' said Keith White, senior director of marketing for the Embedded and Appliance Platforms Group at Microsoft Corp. ``The combination of 'Talisker's' rich multimedia functionalities and NEC's 64-bit MIPS-based embedded chip offerings will enable OEMs to deliver high-performing Windows CE-based set-top boxes and other data-intensive smart devices.''

The Microsoft Windows CE operating system, which includes the Platform Builder comprehensive toolkit for building Windows CE-based OS images, offers a compelling platform for creating high-performance consumer products because of its rich multimedia functionality and other features that enable designers to build smart devices that run Windows applications and connect to the Internet. Embedded processors based on the MIPS architecture, including those manufactured by NEC, offer an innovative combination of hardware floating-point unit, 64-bit data, graphics extensions, SIMD (single-instruction, multiple data) support for streaming video and audio, and deep, multi-issue pipelines. By processing more than one instruction per clock cycle, multi-issue CPUs allow system designers to reduce CPU clock frequencies to achieve a required level of performance. Minimizing the clock speed greatly simplifies OEM design and testing tasks while greatly reducing power dissipation and electromagnetic and radio frequency interference. Microsoft has optimized Windows CE to take advantage of these processor capabilities.

NEC's family of high-performance 64-bit embedded chips for digital consumer, office automation and internetworking applications includes the VR5432(TM) and VR5000(TM) processors, and NEC's newest processor, the VR5500(TM). The VR5500 chip is rated at an impressive 600 Dhrystone 2.1 MIPS at 300 MHz. Such performance and power efficiency (2.0 D-MIPS/MHz) result from its dual-issue, 10-stage pipeline. System designers would have to use a 500 MHz processor to achieve this level of performance with other processor architectures. NEC's processors are now fully supported by the Windows CE operating system and development tools.

MIPS Technologies' long-established 64-bit architecture and low-power, high-performance MIPS64(TM) 20Kc(TM) and 5Kf (TM) processor cores are licensed by semiconductor companies and system OEMs. MIPS-based designs are found in embedded systems that meet the growing demand for high-quality 3-D graphics and streaming media in a variety of applications, especially consumer products such as Internet appliances, set-top boxes and high definition TVs (HDTVs).

Set-top boxes comprise one of the largest segments of the home entertainment market for 32- and 64-bit embedded processors. According to Gartner Dataquest, unit shipments will more than double, from 28 million in 2000 to 70 million in 2004.

``NEC and Microsoft have worked on the Windows CE operating system for more than seven years, and we have been using the MIPS architecture to develop leading 64-bit VR Series(TM) processors for even longer. This 64-bit capability in 'Talisker' Beta 2 technology is a very important step in our joint development of software and hardware with Microsoft, and is a key enabler to our continued drive toward 64-bit processing in the digital consumer marketplace,'' said Katsuhiko Itagaki, director of the NEC Internet Platform Laboratory.

``The importance of 64-bit architectures becomes increasingly significant to the embedded market with the emergence of new information appliances that combine computing, communications, multimedia and encryption for secure information access, e-commerce, and entertainment,'' said Kevin J. Meyer, vice president of marketing at MIPS Technologies. ``As always, consumers continue to demand richer media and graphics that only 64-bit technology can provide. Full 64-bit support in Windows CE is an important step in meeting that demand.''

Windows CE

Microsoft Windows CE is a modular, real-time embedded operating system for small footprint and mobile, 32- and 64-bit, intelligent, connected devices that integrate with Windows and the Internet. Windows CE provides a rich embedded operating system platform for building dynamic applications and services for products that range from consumer electronic devices to specialized industrial controllers and embedded communications devices.

64-Bit Architecture

MIPS Technologies began developing its 64-bit processor architecture more than ten years ago, based on the leading-edge RISC (reduced instruction set computer) research of MIPS co-founder John Hennessy, currently the president of Stanford University. Today, MIPS Technologies is still the only company that openly licenses 64-bit architecture, and also licenses 64-bit synthesizable and full-custom microprocessor cores based on that architecture. More than a dozen leading companies, including NEC, Toshiba, Broadcom, PMC-Sierra, IDT and LSI Logic have successfully deployed that technology in a variety of consumer and networking applications. They include the microprocessor for the Nintendo® 64 and the award-winning 128-bit Emotion Engine processor for the Sony PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system. The growth in 64-bit processing is fueled by demand for features such as streaming audio and high-definition video for small and large displays, cryptography enhancements for e-commerce, better power efficiency and battery life in handheld devices, and the convergence of computing, communications, multimedia and encryption in new types of information appliances. The MIPS® architecture has the rare capability of executing 32-bit and 64-bit code, in binary form, on 64-bit processors without the need to recompile. This capability allows system designers to select from a wealth of commercially available 32-bit and 64-bit MIPS code and accelerate the development of high-bandwidth, next-generation 64-bit products.

About NEC Corporation

NEC Corporation (NASDAQ: NIPNY; FTSE: 6701q.l) is a leading provider of Internet solutions, dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of its customers in the key computer network and electron device fields through its three market-focused in-house companies: NEC Solutions, NEC Networks and NEC Electron Devices. NEC Corporation, with its in-house companies, employs more than 150,000 people worldwide and saw net sales of 5,409 billion Yen (approx. US$43 billion) in fiscal year 2000-2001. For further information, please visit the NEC home page at: http://www.nec.com NEC has been actively promoting the development of W-CDMA technologies and has always been at the forefront in the R&D and standardization activities in this field. NEC has been actively involved in W-CDMA technical trials and field trials all over the world with leading carriers. It has already delivered 3G handsets and infrastructure systems for commercial services. Internet site for NEC's 3G http://www.nec.co.jp/3g-mobile/

About NEC Electronics Inc.

NEC Electronics Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., is one of the leading developers, manufacturers and suppliers of semiconductor products in the United States. Committed to meeting customers' cost, performance and time-to-market requirements, the company offers solutions ranging from standard products, including electron components, to system-on-a-chip (SOC) solutions, as well as customized products for next-generation designs. NEC Electronics also offers customers the benefits of a local manufacturing facility in Roseville, Calif., and the global manufacturing capabilities of its parent company, NEC Corporation (NASDAQ: NIPNY). For more information about products offered by NEC Electronics Inc., please visit the NEC Electronics web site at http://www.necel.com.

About MIPS Technologies

MIPS Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of industry-standard processor architectures and cores for digital consumer and network applications. The company drives the broadest architectural alliance that is delivering 32- and 64-bit embedded RISC solutions. The company licenses its intellectual property to semiconductor companies, ASIC developers and system OEMs. MIPS Technologies and its licensees offer the widest range of robust, scalable processors in standard, custom, semi-custom and application-specific products. The company is based in Mountain View, Calif., and can be reached at 650/567-5000 or www.mips.com.

MIPS® is a registered trademark, and MIPS64(TM), 20Kc(TM), 5Kf(TM), and MIPS-based(TM) are trademarks of MIPS Technologies, Inc in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks referred to herein are the property of their respective owners.

VR Series, VR5000, VR5432 and VR5500 are trademarks or registered trademarks of NEC Corporation in the United States and other countries.

Contact:
     MIPS Technologies, Inc.
     Gerry Ziegler, 650/567-5059
     zig@mips.com
      or
     The Hoffman Agency
     Gustavo Santoyo, 408/286-2611
     gsantoyo@hoffman.com
      or
     NEC Corporation
     Daniel Mathieson, +81 (3) 3798-6511
     d-mathieson@bu.jp.nec.com
      or
     NEC Electronics
     Michele Healey, 408/588-6620
     michele_healey@el.nec.com