ARM Extends its Windows CE-Based Solutions by Announcing Support for Microsoft Windows CE, Handheld PC Professional Edition.

LOS GATOS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 8, 1998--Today ARM (ARM Holdings plc - LSE:ARM; Nasdaq:ARMHY) announced its support for the Windows CE operating system Handheld PC Professional Edition, the third-generation software from Microsoft Corp. for the Handheld PC (H/PC).

OEMs can now leverage ARM(R) core technologies to produce high-performance, ultra low-power, low-cost ARM Powered(R) products that utilize Microsoft's Handheld PC Pro Edition software. A clear advantage of this technology is the highest MIPS/Watt performance among the existing Windows CE-based processors today.

ARM and Microsoft have been working together since 1996 to port Windows CE to the ARM architecture. These efforts are now evident in the Windows CE product line adding complete support for the ARM architecture.

"Microsoft applauds ARM's continued commitment to Windows CE, as demonstrated by its announcement today in support of the H/PC Pro Edition software," said Jonathan Roberts, general manager, Consumer Appliance Group at Microsoft. "Products enabled by ARM core technologies that assist OEMs in developing products for the platform will help further establish Windows CE as a leading operating system for mobile computing -- ultimately offering mobile professionals instant access to information."

ARM's semiconductor partners design, manufacture, market, and sell microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and application specific standard products (ASSPs) around ARM core technologies. ARM provides the ability for each of their partners to add their own technologies and capabilities to create a wide variety of differentiated products while still maintaining ARM's standard instruction set architecture.

ARM has created a family of processors specifically optimized for Windows CE. This includes the highly efficient ARM720T(TM) processor and the high performance ARM920T(TM) and StrongARM(R) processors. In addition, ARM provides integration services dedicated to maximizing Windows CE-based solutions. These services include Design Consulting, Software Development and Design Tools. ARM's expertise and experience in providing tools and resources for low cost high performance RISC architectures, gives OEM's the tools to build and quickly bring to market innovative ARM Powered Windows CE products.

"ARM and our partners provide a complete solution to assist OEMs in designing Windows CE-based products. ARM is uniquely suited to meet the performance requirements of Windows CE, Handheld PC Professional Edition-based platforms," said Erik Ploof, Manager of Strategic Programs at ARM. "This will be evident in upcoming announcements from ARM, our partners and OEMs."

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; Westborough, MA, 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, Thumb, StrongARM and ARM Powered are registered trademarks of ARM Limited. ARM720T and ARM920T are trademarks of ARM Limited. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders.

"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.