Kawasaki Microelectronics Adds MIPS Technologies' Proven Cores to Its ASIC IP Portfolio

Synthesizable, 32- and 64-bit MIPS-Based Cores Expand ASIC Intellectual Property Portfolio for Embedded Applications

TOKYO, Japan and SAN JOSE, Calif., February 2, 2004 - MIPS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: MIPS) and Kawasaki Microelectronics, Inc., a leader in advanced yet affordable ASICs, announced today that they have entered into an agreement that adds MIPS-Based(TM) proven cores to Kawasaki's ASIC intellectual property (IP) portfolio. Under the terms of the agreement, Kawasaki has taken a license for the MIPS32(TM) 4KEc(TM) and M4K(TM) cores with rights to access additional MIPS-Based solutions including the MIPS32 4KEm(TM) and 4KEp(TM) cores, the MIPS32 4K(TM) family of cores, the MIPS64® 5Kc(TM) and 5Kf(TM) cores, and a SOC-it(TM) system controller.

The highly configurable family of MIPS32 4KE cores, with features such as code compression, larger writeback cache memories and extensive clock gating, gives system-on-chip (SoC) designers even more flexibility to optimize their applications by maximizing performance or minimizing power consumption.   With the MIPS32(TM) M4K(TM) core, SOC designers have the ability to meet rapidly increasing data path bandwidth demands while managing silicon costs with this flexible, high performance, yet small processor core.  

"MIPS processors are widely used in a diverse range of products, such as printers, mobile devices, digital televisions, digital set-top boxes, broadband access modems, and routers", said Kyoichi Kissei, executive vice-president of sales, marketing and logistics of Kawasaki Microelectronics.  "We believe we will offer compelling SoC solutions for such applications by combining high-performance MIPS-Based cores with other key system-level blocks in our IP portfolio.  We expect to win a significant number of new SoC designs as a direct result of our agreement with MIPS."

"The powerful combination of Kawasaki's advanced ASIC technology and our high-performance, industry-standard cores provides SOC designers the time- and cost-saving measures necessary in today's competitive, global market," commented Jack Browne, vice president of worldwide sales at MIPS Technologies. "This is a combination that ultimately benefits the consumer because it enables advanced and compelling applications to be brought to market quickly and affordably."

About Kawasaki Microelectronics
Kawasaki Microelectronics is the leader in advanced yet affordable ASIC semiconductor technology solutions. The company's innovative core technologies and world-class design support are used in the consumer electronics, computer, office-automation, networking, wireless, and electronic-storage markets.  Deployed worldwide, Kawasaki's products enable customers to quickly introduce highly competitive solutions.  The company is an active participant in industry standards organizations, including the Network Processing Forum (NPF), Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF), PCI Special Interest Group (PCI-SIG), USB Implementers Forum, MPEG Industry Forum (MPEGIF), Mobile Computing Promotion Consortium (MCPC), and the Digital Display Working Group (DDWG).  Kawasaki has design centers in Boston, Osaka, San Jose, Taipei, and Tokyo.  For more information, contact the company at 408-570-0555, or visit its English-language web site at http://www.klsi.com/, its Japanese-language web site at http://www.k-micro.com/.   

About MIPS Technologies
MIPS Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of industry-standard processor architectures and cores for digital consumer and business 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 and its licensees offer the widest range of robust, scalable processors in standard, custom, semi-custom and application-specific products. The company is based in Mountain View, Calif., and can be reached at +1 (650) 567-5000 or www.mips.com.

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MIPS and MIPS64 are registered trademarks in the United States and other countries, and MIPS32, MIPS-Based, 4K, 4KEm, M4K, 4KEp, 5Kc, 5Kf and SOC-it are trademarks of MIPS Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks referred to herein are the property of their respective owners.