Philips Semiconductors, via its acquisition of VLSI Technology, was the first ARM Partner licensee in 1990 and a long history of joint success exists between the two companies. Philips Semiconductors will leverage this new agreement to extend its Nexperia Platform system-on-chip (SoC) core roadmap into a broad range of applications. This unique, expanded relationship allows Philips Semiconductors to quickly assimilate new ARM core family members, providing customers with significant time-to-market advantages. Philips Semiconductors’ key new ARM core-based initiatives include leading-edge digital audio, Internet appliance, wireless communications, imaging, automotive and microcontroller-based applications.
The next few years will see ever increasing customer demand for IP that can be easily integrated into silicon systems. Relationships with market leaders such as ARM will help drive Philips Semiconductors’ industry-leading Nexperia SoC power and performance improvements into the future, said Theo Claasen, executive vice president and chief technology officer, Philips Semiconductors. Today’s long-term, strategic agreement demonstrates both companies intent to drive ARM core-based digital solutions into new high-volume application markets.
ARM’s expanded relationship with Philips Semiconductors builds on our long history of joint success, said Warren East, chief operating officer, ARM. Philips Semiconductors’ expertise in SoC integration and very high-volume production will continue the momentum of the ARM architecture into broad, leading-edge consumer applications, by offering compelling solutions to end customers.
As a result of this agreement, Philips Semiconductors will now be designing the ARM9E(TM), ARM9EJ(TM) and ARM10(TM) family core processors into leading-edge consumer designs. This new agreement also gives access to the ARM SecurCore(TM) SC100(TM) core processor, designed for secure and eCommerce applications.
Philips Semiconductors’ experience with the ARM architecture spans advanced SoC designs and market-leading design tools and expertise gained as a result of its acquisition of VLSI Technology. In a separate announcement today, Philips Semiconductors announced its latest Rapid Silicon Prototyping (RSP) design platform, Velocity RSP9, which will be available in Q4 2001. A natural extension to the existing Velocity RSP family, Velocity RSP9 platform will provide a state of the art SoC design platform for the ARM946(TM) architecture. Currently, Philips Semiconductors is shipping its Velocity RSP7+ (ARM7(TM) core-based) platform to a broad range of customers addressing multiple mainstream and emerging markets.
