AMD AND TRANSMETA ANNOUNCE COOPERATION ON FUTURE MICROPROCESSOR STANDARDS.

AMD (NYSE:AMD) and Transmeta Corporation (Nasdaq:TMTA) have announced that they have signed licensing agreements that promote industry standards for next generation microprocessors.

Specifically, Transmeta has licensed AMD's x86-64 technology and AMD's HyperTransport interconnect technology for their future x86 processors and technology initiatives.

HyperTransport interconnect technology is an innovative solution that moves information faster, enabling the chips inside of PCs, networking and communications devices to communicate with each other up to 48 times faster than with existing technologies. AMD's x86-64 technology is a straightforward approach to 64-bit computing. It builds upon the x86 instruction set, and seamlessly integrates into the current 32-bit computing and support environment. Compatible with today's 32-bit computing environment, AMD's x86-64 technology approach will enable enterprises to transition to 64-bit environments while preserving the billions of dollars in 32-bit hardware and software investments.

"AMD's x86-64 instruction extensions provide the best upward compatible path for adding 64-bit address capabilities to the x86 instruction set for the PC industry, and we applaud AMD for taking leadership on this issue," said David R. Ditzel, vice-chairman and chief technology officer of Transmeta Corporation.

"We also believe that the HyperTransport interconnect technology is the right choice for the next generation input/output bus standard. By cooperating together on these technologies, customers will be the winners," added Doug Laird, executive vice president of product development of Transmeta.

"Cooperative alliances such as the one we are announcing today with Transmeta yield tremendous benefits for the entire industry," said Fred Weber, vice president and chief technical officer for AMD's Computation Products Group. "AMD welcomes Transmeta to the group of companies adopting HyperTransport technology and we look forward to them introducing products incorporating the technology. Transmeta's endorsement of x86-64 technology demonstrates growing support as we move toward a new industry standard for 64-bit computing. We hope others in the industry will recognize the potential rewards from this collaboration and follow our cue as we advance these new computing standards."

"Transmeta's move to license AMD's x86-64 technology will simplify the lives of software developers, and increases the likelihood that the x86-64 architecture will attract the software support it needs for market success," observed Nathan Brookwood, principal analyst at Insight 64 in Saratoga, Calif. "Similarly, Transmeta's decision to adopt AMD's HyperTransport technology adds to the momentum building behind that standard, and expands the market for HyperTransport-based I/O controllers."