Conexant licenses MIPS Technologies 64-Bit Core for use in advanced communications and consumer applications

CONEXANT LICENSES MIPS TECHNOLOGIES 64-BIT CORE FOR USE IN ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS AND CONSUMER APPLICATIONS
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., (July 18, 2000) - MIPS Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: MIPS, MIPSB) a leading provider of industry standard processor architectures and cores for digital consumer and network applications and Conexant Systems, Inc., (NASDAQ: CNXT) the world's largest independent company focused exclusively on providing semiconductor system solutions for communications electronics, today announced that Conexant will license the MIPS64 5K^? processor core for use in Conexant?s advanced communications and consumer applications.

?I am delighted that Conexant is taking advantage of MIPS Technologies? high performance 64-bit cores for their upcoming communication chips,? said John Bourgoin, chairman and CEO of MIPS Technologies, Inc. ?Adding an industry leader such as Conexant reinforces our position as the defacto standard in 64-bit processor cores. This ensures Conexant?s customers will have access to flexible and scalable high performance silicon solutions.?

"We are pleased to add MIPS Technologies processor cores to our broad technology portfolio,? said James Spoto, senior vice president of Platform Technologies for Conexant. ?This licensing agreement will allow us to integrate high performance MIPS-based cores into our future communications product solutions, reaching across multiple Conexant divisions.?

?MIPS-based processors provide the power and flexibility that advanced communication and consumer applications require,? said Derek Meyer, vice president of field operations at MIPS Technologies. ?The key is providing licensable cores, scaleable performance and the framework for a custom solution.? According to a recent Dataquest research report, MIPS-based solutions are the leading choice among designers of advanced communications and consumer applications.

?MIPS-based processor IP (intellectual property) is a leader in communications and consumer applications,? said Linley Gwennap, principal analyst at The Linley Group. ?MIPS Technologies? SOC-ready processor cores enable OEMs to develop custom solutions that are highly targeted to their application and yet easily programmed using standard development tool chains.?

The MIPS64 5K family of processor cores is well supported by a large body of development tool vendors. Major development tools vendors supporting the MIPS processor architecture include Algorithmics, Ltd., Green Hills Software, Mentor Graphics, Red Hat, Inc., and Wind River Systems, Inc. MIPS Technologies, Inc. and third-party tool vendors provide a wide range of compilers, IDEs, evaluation boards, real-time operating systems, including Windows^® CE, and multiple hardware emulators and probes.

About Conexant
With a revenue run-rate of approximately $2 billion per year, Conexant is the world's largest independent company focused exclusively on providing semiconductor solutions for communications electronics. With more than 30 years of experience in developing communications technology, the company draws upon its expertise in mixed-signal processing to deliver integrated systems and semiconductor products for a broad range of communications applications. These products facilitate communications worldwide through wireline voice and data communications networks, cordless and cellular wireless telephony systems, personal imaging devices and equipment, and emerging cable and wireless broadband communications networks. The company aligns its business into five product platforms: Network Access, Wireless Communications, Digital Infotainment, Personal Imaging, and Personal Computing. Conexant is a member of the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 Indices. For more information, visit Conexant at www.conexant.com.

About MIPS Technologies, Inc.
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, Inc. and its licensees offer the widest range of robust, scalable processors in standard, custom, semi-custom and application-specific products.

Licensees currently include: Alchemy Semiconductor, Inc.; Altera Corporation; ATI Technologies, Inc.; Broadcom Corporation; Centillium Communications, Inc.; Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing; CommQuest (IBM); Conexant Systems, Inc.; ESS Technology, Inc.; Excess Bandwidth; General Instrument Corporation; Integrated Device Technology, Inc. (IDT); Lara Networks, Inc.; LSI Logic Corporation; Macronix; Metalink Ltd.; NEC Corporation; NKK Corporation; Philips Semiconductors; Quantum Effect Devices, Inc. (QED); QuickLogic Corporation; Sandcraft, Inc.; SiByte, Inc.; Sony Corporation; Synova; Texas Instruments Incorporated; Toshiba Corporation; and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Numerous companies utilize MIPS-based? intellectual property. MIPS Technologies, Inc. is based in Mountain View, California, and can be reached at 650-567-5000 or http://www.mips.com.

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MIPS is a registered trademark and MIPS-based, MIPS64 and 5K are trademarks of MIPS Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies. All press materials are available on the World Wide Web via: http://www.mips.com.

Please direct MIPS Technologies sales inquiries to: Martin Kingdom, MIPS Technologies, Windmill Business Park, Whitehill Way, Swindon, Wiltshire, UK SN5 6QR. Tel +44 1793 441 470. Fax +44 1793 441 570. Email: eurosales@mips.com

Media Contact:

MIPS Technologies, Inc.
Constance Sweeney,
+1 650-567-5059
cks@mips.com

Conexant Systems, Inc.
Carol Thornton
+1 949-483-7413
carol.thornton@conexant.com

Account Director for MIPS Technologies in Europe
Nigel Robson
Vortex PR
+44 1481 233080 (UK)
nigel@vortexpr.com