ARC International Tightly Integrates MQX RTOS and RTCS TCP/IP Stack Into Metrowerks’ MPC852 Evaluation System

MPC852 Evaluation System Offers MPC852T PowerQUICC I Developers an Easy-to-Use, Cost-Effective Evaluation System

San Jose, Calif., August 4, 2003 - Continuing its ongoing collaboration with Metrowerks and Motorola, ARC International (LSE:  ARK), a world leader in user-customizable processors, silicon peripheral IP, real-time operating system and development tools for embedded system design, today announced support for Motorola’s MPC852T PowerQUICC I processor and the new low-cost Metrowerks MPC852 Evaluation System (See related Metrowerks press release announced today titled, “Economical Evaluation System from Metrowerks and Motorola Offers Developers ‘Out-of-the-Box’ Productivity”).  ARC’s MQX RTOS and RTCS TCP/IP stack have been pre-integrated with the Metrowerks MPC852 Evaluation System to help speed development time.  Evaluation versions of ARC’s software, shipping in the Metrowerks MPC852 Evaluation System, provides an easy-to-use, cost-effective prototyping solution for embedded system engineers developing MPC852T processor-based networking and communications applications. 

The complete MPC852 Evaluation System available from Metrowerks includes evaluation copies of ARC’s MQX RTOS, RTCS TCP/IP networking stack, RTOS-aware debugging, performance tuning tools, device drivers and a board support package along with an MPC852-based evaluation board and Metrowerks’ CodeWarrior Development Studio for the Motorola MPC852T processor.  The Metrowerks MPC852 Evaluation System has been developed to meet the needs of designers requiring a very cost-effective solution for prototyping communications applications ranging from Ethernet routers to wireless LAN equipment.

“Over the past year, we have worked closely with Metrowerks to seamlessly integrate our software environment to ensure complete interoperability,” said Bill Bernecki, vice president of software at ARC.  “Through this close cooperation, and with Metrowerks’ new low-cost system, we are delivering a solution that not only enables developers to evaluate and start developing their MPC852T PowerQUICC I processor-based embedded design within 30 minutes of opening the box but at an economical entry price.  We believe the tight integration of our MQX RTOS and RTCS TCP/IP stack with Metrowerks’ CodeWarrior Development Studio and MPC852 evaluation board will provide a complete evaluation environment enabling developers to access all resources through a single location.”

“With its ability to quickly and easily meet the needs of embedded designers, ARC’s embedded software solutions are an ideal fit within our MPC852 Evaluation System,” said David Clifton, vice president of marketing for Metrowerks.  “Like ARC, we believe in delivering complete software solutions to our customers that help them quickly and easily develop their embedded applications with minimal risk.  We selected ARC to be in the MPC852 Evaluation System based on the software being streamlined toward the MPC852 in terms of a concise memory foot print, low overhead processor support, and a precisely configured network stack for basic Internet access.”

Support for the MPC852 Evaluation System includes a board support package for the MPC852 evaluation board providing device drivers for 10/100 BaseT Ethernet, console, timer and on-chip Flash peripherals.  Tightly integrated with the CodeWarrior Development Studio, kernel and networking stack information is available in the CodeWarrior pull-down menu during real-time debugging sessions, giving developers access to RTOS, including tasks, semaphores, events, memory blocks and networking resources.  The MQX and RTCS integration with CodeWarrior Development Studio gives designers a complete out-of-box environment delivering the highest quality, interoperable embedded network solution.

Pricing and Availability
ARC’s MQX RTOS and RTCS TCP/IP stack are available immediately from ARC, Metrowerks and Metrowerks’ distributors to give designers a head-start on software development for the MPC852T processor.  Pricing for a single product license of the ARC MQX software starts at $12,500 USD and is provided in full source code with no royalties.  Software bundles containing RTCS TCP/IP networking stack and protocols are also available starting at $16,500 USD.

About ARC
ARC International is a world leader in SoC and embedded software design and development minimizing risk for customers developing next-generation wireless, networking, industrial control, storage and consumer electronics products. ARC introduced the industry’s first user-customizable 32-bit RISC/DSP processor core, the industry's first USB Hi-Speed On-The-Go IP and today supplies turnkey embedded solutions that combine a real-time operating system, development tools and peripheral hardware and software that enable developers to better design optimization and performance. ARC provides a single source for the major SoC and embedded software building blocks reducing the number of suppliers, reducing cost, reducing risk and reducing time-to-market.

ARC International employs approximately 200 people in research and development, sales and marketing offices across North America, Europe and Asia. Full details of the company’s locations and other information are available on the company’s website, http://www.arc.com.  ARC International is listed on the London Stock Exchange as ARC International plc (LSE: ARK).

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Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts include forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include, among others, market acceptance of the ARC technology; fluctuations in and unpredictability of the Company’s quarterly results; general economic and business conditions; regulatory policies adopted by governmental authorities; assumptions regarding the Company’s future business strategy; changes in technology; competition; ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; risks associated with the Company’s international operations; and other uncertainties that are discussed in the “Investment Considerations” section of the Company’s listing particulars dated 28 September 2000 filed with the United Kingdom Listing Authority and the Registrar of Companies in England and Wales. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date such statement was first made. In view of the many applications in which its Licensees may use the ARC products, ARC cannot warrant that those applications do not infringe the patents of others. ARC strongly encourages its Licensees to become familiar with the policies governing the use and licensing of intellectual property established by any organization whose standards the Licensee wishes to follow, and to review the list most standards-promulgating organizations publish, of entities that claim to have patents relating to the relevant standards or underlying technology.

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