ARM Extends Approved Design Center Program With Software Specialist Category

Tata Elxsi is the first ARM Approved Design Center: Software Specialist

CAMBRIDGE, UK –November 09, 2006 – ARM [(LSE: ARM); (Nasdaq: ARMHY)] today announced the launch of the ARM® Approved Design Center: Software Specialist program, an extension to its successful ARM Approved Design Center program. Tata Elxsi, a leading provider of Embedded Technology and Design services, has been appointed as the first member of the new program.

The new Software Specialist program augments the established ARM Approved Design Center program, and enables the rapidly growing number of ARM ‘Design Clients’ who choose to outsource all or part of their ARM processor-based design to gain both hardware and software expertise from one source and benefit from reduced time-to-market, and mitigated critical design risk for first-time-right product delivery.

Tata Elxsi joins the existing 27 ARM Approved Design Centers, but is the first member of the new ARM Approved Design Center: Software Specialist program.

As an Approved Design Center for both hardware and software, Tata Elxsi combines its domain knowledge and embedded expertise with ARM processors, tools and development techniques, to help silicon vendors and product companies across different verticals such as automotive, telecom and wireless, consumer and media, for SoC design and complete software development and porting, including firmware, device drivers, BSPs, embedded applications and stacks on ARM processors.

Approved Design Centers in the new program will use the ARM RealView® SoC Designer, a member of the ARM RealView family of ESL tools, to perform fast modelling, simulation and debugging of complex system-on-chip (SoC) designs in a virtual environment. Other services include benchmarking of ARM processors for target applications, and testing and optimization of the customer’s code to ensure confidence in the final product much earlier in the design cycle, therefore lowering risk and increasing delivery of products that are right first time.

“This addition to the already well established and respected ARM Approved Design Center program adds another link in the chain for ARM’s Ecosystem and yet another way for ARM Partners to ensure a quality delivery be it hardware or software,” said Stephen Jeffries, commercial manager, Services Division, ARM.

“Joining the ARM Approved Design Center: Software Specialist program will help us solidify our leadership position in the SoC and embedded software design for the consumer electronic, media, mobile and automotive market space,” said Nitin Pai, Head of Worldwide Marketing at Tata Elxsi. “Tata Elxsi’s proven track record in embedded product design services combined with the backing of ARM and ARM tools, will enable customers with the unique advantage of accessing an experienced embedded development team and optimised embedded IP and solutions based on ARM technology.”

“It is especially important for our Partners to be able to access technical expertise to help develop next-generation products without sacrificing time-to-market,” said Atul Arora, president ARM India Commercial Operations. “ARM is looking to increase its partnership with Indian companies to enable cost-effective support and a local network.”

About RealView ESL tools
The RealView CREATE family of design tools uses ESL technology to create a virtual prototype of processor cores and complete SoC designs in the pre-silicon phase. As part of this process, SoC hardware architecture and software are tested extensively in the pre-silicon phase. The tools work at the cycle-based and transaction-based abstraction level, combining the speed of C/C++ with the accuracy of RTL, to provide a complete platform for modeling and programming multi-core SoCs. The tools also support the SPIRIT 1.1 standard for ease of integration into downstream RTL and implementation design flows. As a result, design engineers using the RealView ESL design tools are able to achieve enhanced end product quality.
About the ARM Approved Design Center Program
ARM Approved Design Center Partners must go through a strict approval process to qualify as an ARM Approved Design Center. This includes a design flow audit, training on implementing designs with ARM processors, tools, AMBA® interface peripherals and development techniques. Furthermore, each Approved Design Center must demonstrate its own unique skills in specific technology domains, as well as end-market expertise. The ARM Approved Design Center Program also provides additional benefits such as geographic and time-zone locality and local language support.

About ARM
ARM designs the technology that lies at the heart of advanced digital products, from mobile, home and enterprise solutions to embedded and emerging applications. ARM’s comprehensive product offering includes 16/32-bit RISC microprocessors, data engines, graphics processors, digital libraries, embedded memories, peripherals, software and development tools, as well as analog functions and high-speed connectivity products. Combined with the company’s broad Partner community, they provide a total system solution that offers a fast, reliable path to market for leading electronics companies. More information on ARM is available at http://www.arm.com.

About Tata Elxsi
Tata Elxsi addresses outsourced design for embedded products across silicon, systems and software layers, delivering high quality, cost effective and reduced time-to-market services and solutions to industry sectors such as automotive, consumer electronics, media and entertainment, semiconductors and telecommunications. Tata Elxsi’s global delivery capability is supported by a team of over 2000 technology specialists and engineers, and a network of over 20 worldwide offices, enabling easy access to global customers.

ENDS

ARM, AMBA and RealView are registered 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; its operating company ARM Limited; and the regional subsidiaries ARM INC.; ARM KK; ARM Korea Ltd.; ARM Taiwan; ARM France SAS; ARM Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.; ARM Belgium N.V.; AXYS Design Automation Inc.; AXYS GmbH; ARM Embedded Solutions Pvt. Ltd.; and ARM Physical IP, Inc.; and ARM Norway AS.

Contact Information

Michelle Spencer

ARM

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