Altek International to Use ARC's Configurable CPU in Digital Still Camera Chips

ARC’s Patented Configurable Technology Ideally Suited for Low Power, Consumer Applications

ELSTREE, England, July 25, 2005 – ARC International (LSE: ARK), the world leader in configurable CPU/DSP processor cores and application subsystems, today announced that Altek International Investment Co., Ltd has extended their license for an ARC configurable core to design its next-generation digital still camera chip.

Altek’s current ARC-Based™ design is shipping to market and includes three low power ARC cores, which provide chip control and picture effects on the SoC. The company’s next-generation chip will take advantage of the ARC core’s configurability to support feature-rich cameras. System OEMs that have incorporated ARC silicon in their digital cameras include Hewlett Packard, Polaroid, RCA and Toshiba.

“Using ARC’s patented technology, SoC designers can configure a processor to achieve the optimum balance between power consumption and performance for battery powered consumer applications,” said Derek Meyer, senior vice president of sales and marketing at ARC International. “Altek is the latest example of a growing number of licensees who are expanding the use of our configurable CPUs to successive generations of ARC-Based designs in high-volume applications.”

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 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).

ARC, ARC-Based and the ARC logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of ARC International. 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.