ARCHIVE 2004

Highest Java™ Performance Achieved by the MIPS32® 24Kc™ Core

ZURICH, Switzerland and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., August 2, 2004 – Hardware-based solutions for Java execution in consumer embedded applications could be a thing of the past, according to MIPS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: MIPS). Along with Esmertec,™ a leading provider of Java™ solutions for embedded devices, the companies announced today that Esmertec’s optimized Jbed™ CDC with FastDAC (Dynamic Adaptive Compiler) running on a MIPS32® 24Kc™ core delivered 7.5 Embedded CaffeineMarks per megahertz. At 550 MHz, this yields 4125 Embedded CaffeineMarks, which is the highest known Java performance in the SOC industry.

Java technology is used in millions of consumer electronics products every year, from set-top boxes and interactive TVs to mobile devices and automotive telematics. To boost Java performance, hardware accelerators are commonly used, but the added silicon can be a significant disadvantage in the cost-sensitive consumer electronics market. Using Esmertec’s Java solution optimized to the MIPS32 and MIPS64® architectures, SOC designers now can subsume functionality of dedicated Java co-processors and hardware accelerators into software eliminating unneeded silicon.

The Esmertec Jbed Java solution is part of the growing $100-million plus MIPS ecosystem that provides optimized solutions for software developers and licensees. Industry leaders such as Dolby, Microsoft, OpenTV, TiVo and others are helping make the MIPS architecture the technology-of-choice for the high-growth digital set-top box market, where the MIPS architecture is used in more than 75 percent of digital cable set-tops.

“The MIPS architecture has long been a leader in consumer applications such as set-top boxes and digital TVs because it enables manufacturers to deliver richer functionality at a desirable price point through a widely available software base,” said Anne-Marie Larkin, CTO of Esmertec. “We’re excited to be the first company to work with MIPS Technologies and offer a leading MIPS-based Java solution with such excellent Java performance benchmarks.”

“In consumer applications where delivering a differentiated low cost solution can mean the difference between market leadership and market obscurity, software-based designs offer tremendous advantages over traditional hardware-based approaches,” said Russ Bell, vice president of marketing at MIPS Technologies. “By partnering with Esmertec to deliver the industry’s leading Java performance, MIPS Technologies is continuing to help customers meet critical market requirements while adding to the growing software base that comprises the MIPS ecosystem.”

Availability The Jbed CDC with FastDAC optimized to the MIPS32 and MIPS64 architectures is available now for licensing from Esmertec. For more information, please contact info@esmertec.com. Interested companies can also contact MIPS Technologies at +1 650 567 5000 or at sales@mips.com.