NXP Successfully Deploys Integrated CoWare and ARM Cortex Processor-based Solution in its Virtual Prototyping Environment

• CoWare Virtual Platform tightly integrates Fast Models from ARM for Cortex-M3, Cortex-R4, Cortex-A8 and Cortex-A9 processors;
• NXP uses the CoWare environment to port Linux on Cortex A9 processor-based designs ahead of RTL availability;
• NXP achieves significant savings for the software development and validation over traditional emulation-based development methods.

SAN JOSE, Calif. and CAMBRIDGE, UK – July 20, 2009 – CoWare®, Inc., the leading supplier of Electronic System Virtualization™ software and services, and ARM® [(LSE:ARM); (Nasdaq:ARMH)], announced today that NXP has successfully deployed their joint software development solution, integrating Fast Models from ARM for Cortex™ processors™ in CoWare’s Virtual Platform technology. NXP uses the joint ARM-CoWare offering in their own SystemC based Virtual Prototyping Environment (VPE). The software development solution is enabling NXP to reduce development costs, improve software developer productivity and achieve faster time-to-market.

VPE is NXP’s internal development environment utilizing the virtualized representation of an electronic system. It removes the dependency on the availability of expensive hardware prototypes and development test benches and provides cost-effective software development capabilities for debugging and analysis. NXP’s VPE is based on CoWare’s technology. Using their VPE with the ARM® Cortex-A9 processor-based Fast Model, NXP ported Linux in record time, ahead of RTL availability and faster than with traditional emulation based development methods. Support by CoWare’s services organization combined with key VPE features enabled this productivity boost. Key VPE features include:

•    Enhanced debug visibility combining CoWare Virtual Platform Analyzer with a software debugger.
•    Reproducibility and predictability through full scripting environment.
•    High-speed simulation performance for the Cortex-A9 subsystem, including higher performance than traditional emulation methods.
•    Ease of deployment across multiple engineering sites around the world.

“NXP is a world leader in developing advanced digital products--from portable media players, TVs and set-top boxes, to identification applications, cars and a wide range of other electronic devices,” said Barry Dennington, Senior Vice President, CIT Design and Flows, NXP Semiconductors. “The cooperation between ARM and CoWare to enable VPEs for software development on Cortex processor-based designs made it possible for us to significantly save on the software development and validation effort for our next-generation consumer device, thus reducing cost while at the same time accelerating the time-to-market of the device.”

“ARM is dedicated to enabling developers to get the most out of their ARM processor-based designs,” said John Cornish, Executive Vice President and General Manager of ARM, System Design Division. “In a close collaboration with CoWare, we have been able to combine the value of the Virtual Platform technology and Fast Models enabling NXP to distribute fast, trusted, and reliable virtual prototypes for software development.”

“Last year, NXP successfully established its powerful VPE environment based on CoWare technology and deployed it company wide for the development of its leading designs,” said Marc Serughetti, Vice President, Marketing and Business Development, CoWare. “The tight partnership between CoWare and ARM, through the integration of the Fast Models for the ARM Cortex processors in CoWare Virtual Platform combined with expert support, has provided NXP with quantifiable results showing the benefits of electronic system virtualization.”

About CoWare Solutions for ARM Technology-based Designs
CoWare is the leading global supplier of Electronic System Virtualization solutions for software development, platform architecture design and platform verification of ARM processor-based platforms. CoWare combines ARM instruction-accurate processor models and implementation-accurate Carbonized ARM models within one standards-based SystemC design environment. The CoWare solutions enable engineers to take full advantage of the capabilities of the entire range of ARM system elements in the context of the actual design; from ARM memory controllers and interconnects to application and embedded processors and embedded firmware.
 
About ARM
ARM designs the technology that lies at the heart of advanced digital products, from wireless, networking and consumer entertainment solutions to imaging, automotive, security and storage devices. ARM’s comprehensive product offering includes 32-bit RISC microprocessors, graphics processors, video engines, enabling software, cell libraries, embedded memories, high-speed connectivity products, peripherals and development tools. Combined with comprehensive design services, training, support and maintenance, and 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 NXP Semiconductors
NXP is a leading semiconductor company founded by Philips more than 50 years ago. Headquartered in Europe, the company has about 28,000 employees working in more than 30 countries and posted sales of USD 5.4 billion (including the Mobile & Personal business) in 2008. NXP creates semiconductors, system solutions and software that deliver better sensory experiences in TVs, set-top boxes, identification applications, mobile phones, cars and a wide range of other electronic devices. News from NXP is located at www.nxp.com.

CoWare is the leading global supplier of electronic system virtualization software and services. IP, semiconductor, and electronics companies use CoWare virtualization solutions to design better processor- and software-intensive products faster. CoWare solutions solve the new design challenges associated with platform architecture design, platform verification, application sub-system design, processor design, DSP algorithm design, and software development, and are based on open industry standards including SystemC. These solutions also enable IP and semiconductor companies to implement more effective go-to-market strategies. CoWare's corporate investors include ARM [(LSE: ARM); (Nasdaq: ARMH)], Cadence Design Systems (NASDAQ: CDNS), STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), and Sony Corporation (NYSE: SNE). CoWare is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., and has offices around the world. For more information about CoWare and its products and services visit http://www.coware.com.