Accent Licenses ARM Cortex-M3 Processor For Wireless Platform Solutions

New Generation of Highly Integrated Products to Further Address the Low Power Wireless Market

Cambridge, UK, and Milan, Italy -- March 30, 2009 ― ARM [(LSE:ARM); (Nasdaq:ARMH)] and Accent S.A., a leading fabless SoC provider offering highly differentiated platform-based System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions, today announced at Embedded Systems Conference, San Jose, Calif., that Accent has chosen the ARM® CortexTM-M3 processor for its next generation BASEsoc RF (Radio Frequency) Platform offerings.  The agreement builds on Accent’s long and established track record of delivering state-of-the-art ARM technology-based solutions, utilizing the ARM7TDMI® and the ARM926EJ-S™ processors, and expertise in the areas of low power, wireless, embedded, and analog/mixed-signal design.

Accent’s BASEsoc RF Platform for ARM enables pre-optimized, field-proven single chip wireless systems by serving as near-finished solutions for a number of applications.  This modular platform is easily customizable and supports integration of different wireless standards, such as ZigBee, Bluetooth, RFID and UWB, allowing customers to achieve the shortest time-to-market at no risk. An ARM processor-based, complex RF-IC could be fully specified, developed and ramped to volume production by Accent in less than nine months.

For ARM processor-based designs, Accent also offers its RC BASEsoc Platform for real-time control applications and AP BASEsoc Platform for application processing requiring complex operating systems.  The platforms incorporate a number of features such as a multi-layer AMBA® bus, TCM/Cache memory options, smart power management, and support for a number of internal and external memory options.  Accent also provides a comprehensive suite of digital and analog peripherals from its BASEip Library for a complete system.  With the industry-leading performance of the Cortex-M3 processor, and up to 40% performance increase and 35% code size reduction versus the ARM7TDMI processor, Accent will continue to meet the need of challenging markets such as industrial control and wireless networking.

“The agreement with Accent underscores the growing momentum behind the Cortex-M3 processor and  enables a broad range of customers to leverage Accent’s System-on-Chip capabilities for customized silicon solutions based on the ARM architecture,” said Eric Schorn, VP marketing, Processor Division, ARM.  “By adopting the Cortex-M3 processor, Accent customers will be able to easily upgrade from previous ARM7TDMI processor or 8/16-bit architecture–based designs with virtually no silicon and software development impact.”

“The ARM Cortex-M3 processor provides critical technology for our highly-integrated BASEsoc Platforms, meeting the high-performance, low-cost needs of the industrial and wireless markets,” said Federico Arcelli, CEO of Accent.  “When combined with our comprehensive ASIC capabilities, Accent’s customers will achieve significant BOM reductions with fast time to market and guaranteed performance.”

About Accent

Founded in 1993, Accent is a leading fabless ASIC provider offering highly differentiated design and turnkey services for state-of-the-art SoC (System-on-Chip) silicon solutions. Accent’s unique design expertise and IP portfolio in mixed-signal and RF, together with its unrivaled system-level integration capabilities, enable cost effective and differentiated SoC solutions to OEMs, fabless and IDMs. Accent has a proven track record over the years with more than 300 ICs (Integrated Circuit) designs completed to date, with over 98% first-time-right production silicon, and with tens of millions of units delivered from Accent to market. For more information, please visit: www.accent-soc.com.

About ARM

ARM designs the technology that lies at the heart of advanced digital products, from wireless, networking and consumer entertainment solutions to imaging, automotive, security and storage devices. ARM’s comprehensive product offering includes 32-bit RISC microprocessors, graphics processors, video engines, enabling software, cell libraries, embedded memories, high-speed connectivity products, peripherals and development tools. Combined with comprehensive design services, training, support and maintenance, and the company’s broad Partner community, they provide a total system solution that offers a fast, reliable path to market for leading electronics companies. More information on ARM is available at www.arm.com.