Transitive Technologies and Alchemy Semiconductor Collaborate to Enable ARM Binary Code to Run on Alchemy's MIPS-based Processors

SAN JOSE, Calif. Microprocessor Forum October 15, 2001 -- Transitive Technologies, a developer of CPU morphing software, and Alchemy Semiconductor IncT, an Austin-based fabless semiconductor company targeting the Internet Edge Device market, today announced they are working together to enable application software written for ARMT-based platforms to run on the Alchemy's family of high performance, low power MIPS® (NASDAQ:MIPS) microprocessors and evaluation platforms. The Transitive Technologies' Dynamite software complements Alchemy's MIPS strategy, which will expand Alchemy's served markets by eliminating customer software constraints.

Transitive's Dynamite A/M is providing Alchemy with a "Synthetic ARM" CPU software engine that enables their family of products to translate ARM binary code to MIPS binary code. It will scale Alchemy's current family of products, which include the 400 MHz, 1/2 watt Au1000 and the PCI enabled Au1500. The software can be demonstrated on Alchemy's Pb1000 and Pb1500 development boards and its Mobile Client Device reference design. This powerful technology utilizes a CPU configurable software platform that allows code written for a subject instruction set architecture (ISA) to transparently run a target ISA at native speeds or better.

"Transitive's goal is to enable OEMs to use the best processor available, which is why we collaborated with Alchemy. We believe their high performance, low power SoC technology is one of the best in its class for mobile computer devices," said John Graham, president and CEO of Transitive Technologies. "Alchemy is primarily targeting new designs and MIPS coded legacy designs. By working together, we are opening the door for Alchemy's powerful MIPS-based processors to a market that predominantly uses ARM CPU cores by eliminating timely software porting and optimization requirements. This capability will enable a large body of ARM code to run on Alchemy processors and ride Alchemy's superior power/performance roadmap. This gives users a broader choice of CPUs to choose from without the usual software barrier constraints."

"Transitive's Dynamite A/M allows Alchemy to penetrate designs which have previously used ARM processors. By translating ARM code into MIPS code, customers can utilize their legacy application code while benefiting from Alchemy's very high performance and low power unmatched in the market by any other single chip SOC available today," said Jim Moore, President and CEO of Alchemy Semiconductors. "We see a lot interest from our customers, and we will continue working with Transitive to expand the code base available to our customers.

The current implementation of Dynamite A/M runs on a Linux operating system. The company plans to develop future versions of Dynamite A/M next year, supporting WinCE as well as other relevant operating systems.

Transitive is demonstrating its ARM to MIPS platform, called Dynamite A/M, on Alchemy's reference design at the Microprocessor Forum in San Jose this week, October 15-17.

About Alchemy Semiconductors
Founded in Austin, Texas, in 1999, Alchemy Semiconductor is a fabless semiconductor company that designs, develops and markets high performance, yet very low power systems-on-a-chip (SoCs) for the Internet Edge Device market. These devices include both wireless hand-held enterprise PDAs and remote Internet access products, as well as Internet infrastructure products, such as routers and line cards. The company's founding team includes world-renown embedded microprocessor architects, led by former DEC Alpha / StrongARM design team members, allowing for a combination of proven design execution and MIPS performance technology to achieve high performance, low power dissipation and system integration in its Internet Edge Processor. Alchemy's headquarters are at 7800 Shoal Creek Blvd., Suite 222W, Austin, Texas 78757; or go to www.alchemysemi.com.

About Transitive Technologies Ltd
Transitive is a ventured financed private company with operations in Manchester, England and San Diego, Calif. The company develops and licenses CPU specific implementations of Dynamite and selectively engages in "ISA free" co-architecture projects for novel Synthetic CPU designs. The company can be contacted at (858) 674-2244, or go to http://www.transitives.com

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Transitive Technology
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Transitive Technology
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Alchemy Semiconductor
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Alchemy Semiconductor
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