MIPS, Ampro ink deal to develop embedded products

Mips, Ampro ink deal to develop embedded products
By Semiconductor Business News
September 24, 2000 (4:47 p.m. EST)
URL: http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20000922S0056

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- Mips Technologies Inc. and Ampro Computers Inc. have announced an agreement that will accelerate the development of Mips processor-based systems and chips for embedded applications.

Under the terms, Ampro will develop single-board system modules based on Mips' 32-bit RISC processors. Based on Ampro's EnCore platform, the modules will be designed for Internet- and other network-connected embedded systems.

"This agreement will provide our licensees and their OEM customers with high-quality boards for early software development as well as wide-scale deployment, accelerating OEM product introductions," said Brian Knowles, vice president of marketing at Mips Technologies.

"This agreement also gives Mips Technologies' licensees an advantage by establishing a hardware and software framework for their advanced processor implementations, not only for engineering purposes but also for use as OEM products," said Paul Rosenfe ld, vice president of marketing for Ampro, based in San Jose.

"OEM customers of Mips Technologies' licensees will have the ability to significantly accelerate the development and production of embedded systems by taking advantage of industry-supported software and the variety of form-factors supported by the EnCore platform," he added.

The companies did not elaborate on product shipments, but Ampro believes that its Encore platform will become a de facto standard in the industry, much like its PC/104 and EBX form-factor products.