ARM Announces RealView Compilation Tools for BREW version 3.0

New version features significant improvements in code size and performance, plus C++ standards conformance

June 20, 2007 -- ARM today announced at the BREW 2007 Conference the RealView® Compilation Tools for BREW (Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless) version 3.0. The RealView Compilation Tools for BREW 3.0 provide best-in-class code-generation tools specifically designed for generating applications to run under Qualcomm’s BREW environment, a widely used software platform in the wireless market. The RealView Compilation Tools for BREW 3.0 replace the earlier RealView Compilation Tools for BREW 1.2, and bring many of the advanced RealView C/C++ compiler developments of the last five years to the BREW application development community for the first time.

“ARM technology has long been the foundation for mobile applications, and we have supported BREW application development with compiler technology since 2002,” said John Cornish, vice president of marketing for the System Design Division at ARM. “Today’s announcement extends our commitment to enabling rich content and dynamic applications that extend the functionality of mobile devices.”

Key features of the RealView Compilation Tools for BREW version 3.0 include an advanced compiler optimization engine, which provides excellent code size and a typical performance increases of  between 15 and 20 percent over the previous-generation RealView Compilation Tools for BREW 1.2 (depending on source code); full ISO C and C++ support, which eases porting from other  platforms; support for the ARM® processors in the latest BREW handsets (ARM7™, ARM9™ and ARM11™ processor families); the ability to compile individual functions within a single source file for either the 32-bit ARM or 16-bit Thumb® instruction sets; advanced assembly level access from C/C++ code using inline assembler, embedded assembler and compiler intrinsics; support for “Unified Assembler Language,” which simplifies the mixing of 32-bit ARM and 16-bit Thumb instruction set assembly code; and Chinese, Japanese and Korean language support.

Evaluation by Airsource Ltd., a BREW consultancy, demonstrates that the upgraded RealView Compilation Tools for BREW offer significant benefits to all BREW developers. “Our tests show that the new RealView Compilation Tools for BREW version 3.0 offer performance improvements over GCC 3.3.1 of between 20 and 30 percent and code size reduction of between 5 and 10 percent. These are gains that can be experienced by all BREW developers immediately,” said Ben Blaukopf, CTO of Airsource. “In memory-constrained and performance-critical environments, such as native handset applications, upgrading your compiler suite to the cutting edge gives you major benefits.”

“In a matter of hours, we migrated several mobile games, including Jump, to RealView Compilation Tools for BREW version 3.0,” said Mark Kirkby, Technical Director at The Code Monkeys Ltd., “Despite these games being heavily hand-optimized for mobile performance, we saw noticeable improvements when building with the new tools.”

The RealView Compilation Tools for BREW 3.0 contains a variant of the code generation tools from the RealView Development Suite version 3.0, targeted specifically at BREW application developers. Included on the CD are an optimizing ISO C/C++ compiler, assembler; linker, C and C++ libraries, an image conversion utility, an object file archiver/librarian and electronic documentation.

Pricing and Availability

The RealView Compilation Tools for BREW version 3.0 are available for ordering now from local ARM sales offices and the ARM RealView distributor network and will begin shipping in early Q3 2007. A new seat is priced at $1500 for a node locked, one year term seat. Existing users of RealView Compilation Tools for BREW version 1.2 will be able to upgrade to version 3.0 at the discounted price of $1300 until the end of 2007, upon production of the original serial number.

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 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.