ARM Launches SecurCore[tm] for Smart Cards

CAMBRIDGE, UK and PARIS, France - Oct. 24, 2000 -- ARM [(LSE:ARM); (Nasdaq:ARMHY)], the industry's leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC microprocessor solutions, today announced at Cartes2000, its new SecurCore[tm] family of microprocessor cores. The new SecurCore technology targets the rapidly growing smart card market, enabling the development of fast, secure, ARM Powered[tm] card-based solutions for a variety of eCommerce applications including mobile communications, PayTV, financial systems and health care.

The synthesizable SecurCore technology provides a high-performance, low-power microprocessor solution that includes innovative anti-counterfeiting methodology. Synthesis enables straightforward migration to new silicon processes and portability across semiconductor vendors, which allows for multiple sourcing. The new anti-counterfeiting methodology protects a card issuer's investment in silicon development without compromising security, helping resist invasion at the hardware and software levels, as well as physical tampering, whether through reverse engineering the layout, power or timing analysis, or directly probing the chip surface structure.

"With the growing demand secure technology, our partners have been requesting an industry proven 32-bit architecture for smart card solutions that allow application specific customization," said Richard York, SecurCore product manager for ARM. "The introduction of our new SecurCore technology will provide our global technology network with a secure, flexible and efficient solution for next-generation smart card platforms."

ARM's initial SecurCore offering is the SC100[tm] core, which provides a flexible and highly-secure microprocessor solution for smart card system-on-chip (SoC) integration.

The SC100 core uses an ARM® Memory Protection Unit (MPU) to perform MMU-type functions securely, and includes a range of SPA/DPA counter-measures. Industry-leading code density ensures optimal use of memory resources, while incorporating energy and space-saving features, including the Thumb® instruction set.

ARM has also developed a new debugging and test methodology, designed specifically for secure systems, which includes a one-way development process. This process enables silicon and system developers to engineer on-chip security features in a secure environment using industry-proven ARM technology.

Availability and Pricing
The SecurCore family will be licensed as IP cores for implementation within application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or application specific standard product (ASSP) designs. Pricing for SecurCore designs is established by ARM semiconductor licensees and is based on customer-specific system-level design requirements.

For more information on the SC100 core and the ARM SecurCore family, visit the ARM website at www.arm.com

About ARM
ARM is the industry's leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC microprocessor solutions. The company licenses its high-performance, low-cost, power-efficient RISC processors, peripherals, and system-chip designs to leading international electronics companies. ARM also provides comprehensive support required in developing a complete system. ARM's microprocessor cores are rapidly becoming the volume RISC standard in such markets as portable communications, handheld computing, multimedia and embedded solutions. More information on ARM is available at http://www.arm.com/. 

ARM and Thumb is a registered trademark of ARM Limited. SecurCore and ARM Powered and SC100 are trademarks of ARM Ltd. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders. "ARM" is used to represent ARM Holdings plc (LSE: ARM and Nasdaq: ARMHY); its operating company ARM Limited; and the regional subsidiaries ARM, INC.; ARM KK; ARM Korea Ltd.; ARM Taiwan.