3Com Licenses ARM7TDMI Core for Networking Innovation.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 28, 1999--

Building upon their previously announced technology alliance (March 99), ARM (LSE:ARM)(Nasdaq:ARMHY) and 3Com today announced that 3Com has licensed the ARM7TDMI(TM) core for its next-generation network interface cards.

This licensing agreement gives 3Com access to the high-performance, low-power RISC technology from ARM and its semiconductor partners.

"ARM's emphasis on delivering re-usable, easy to implement and readily available intellectual property makes them an ideal fit with 3Com's silicon and business strategies," said Tom Werner, vice president and general manager, Business Connectivity Division, 3Com. "We can leverage ARM's strengths of performance, multi-source availability and cross-industry development support, as well as the depth of the ARM semiconductor Partnership Model for our next generation products."

"ARM has always partnered with industry leaders -- first with world-class semiconductor companies to support OEM needs, and now with world-class OEMs to support end-user needs," said Reynette Au, vice president of Marketing, ARM. "This agreement with 3Com, an industry-leading network solutions provider, proves ARM's commitment to its business model and to the evolving System-on-Chip arena. By working closely with OEMs to address system needs via these SoC solutions, ARM is supporting business opportunities for our semiconductor partners in the rapidly growing networking market."

ARM processors range in performance from 60 MHz (54 MIPS) to 175 MHz (200 MIPS), extending to 300 MHz (400+ MIPS) for processor cores currently in development. The cores are noted for performance, small die size, low power consumption, tight code density, and multiple supply sources. Instruction set compatibility between processor families promotes design reuse and reduces software development time.

ARM offers full system-on-chip solutions including processor cores, peripheral intellectual property, development tools, applications software, EDA tools and design services. The ARM architecture is well supported by semiconductor partners, real-time operating system providers, third-party toolchain developers, application software providers and ARM design centers.

About 3Com Corporation

With more than 300 million customers worldwide, 3Com Corporation connects more people to information in more ways than any other networking company. 3Com delivers innovative information access products and network system solutions to large, medium and small enterprises; carriers and network service providers; PC OEMs; and consumers. 3Com-More connected.(TM) For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at www.3com.com or the press site at www.3com.com/pressbox.

About ARM

ARM, a leading intellectual property (IP) provider, licenses high-performance, low-cost, power-efficient RISC processors, peripherals, and system-chip designs to leading international electronics companies. ARM also provides comprehensive support required in developing a complete system. ARM's microprocessor cores are rapidly becoming the volume RISC standard in such markets as portable communications, hand-held computing, multi-media and embedded solutions. ARM serves its growing partnership base from offices in Cambridge and Maidenhead, UK; Los Gatos, California; Austin, Texas; Seattle, Washington; Boston, Mass., USA; Paris, France; Munich, Germany; Tokyo, Japan and Seoul, Korea. More information on ARM is available at http://www.arm.com

Note to Editors: ARM, ARM Powered, Thumb and StrongARM are registered trademarks of ARM Limited. "ARM" is used to represent ARM Holdings plc (LSE:ARM and Nasdaq:ARMHY); its operating company ARM Limited; and the regional subsidiaries ARM, INC.; ARM KK; ARM Korea Ltd. 3Com is a registered trademark, and More connected. is a trademark of 3Com Corporation.