MIPS Technologies kicks off new alliance program giving 32- and 64-Bit designers key tools and applications

 MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- (September 26, 2000) -- Providing its licensees with a broad array of tools and applications support in the design of embedded solutions using the MIPS32 and MIPS64 architectures, MIPS Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: MIPS, MIPSB) today kicks off its MIPS Alliance Program. With 34 industry leading tool-set and application suppliers as current members, the new program highlights the company's continuing dedication to providing a MIPS platform-based open business model for external developers of networking and consumer applications.

"Our goal is to offer the richest set of software tools and applications available for any architecture created in the digital consumer and networking sectors," said Brian Knowles, vice president of marketing, MIPS Technologies. "We plan to do this by adding new alliance members who will augment our already strong current base of industry supporters."

Through the MIPS Alliance Program, members can leverage the success of the MIPS32 and MIPS64 architectures in the high growth digital consumer and networking markets. MIPS Technologies provides alliance members with broad marketing assistance, such as Internet and traditional marketing and promotional activities as well as sales assistance. The company also provides developer support including a packaged kit containing a MIPS-based platform and documentation.

Ampro marketing vice president, Paul Rosenfield said, "As the inventor of several computer board defacto standards for embedded applications, it is important for us to provide early support for MIPS32 and MIPS64. Our customers rely on us for the most advanced systems available, and participation in this program lets us deliver to that expectation."

"With the MIPS Alliance Program in place, we have moved one step closer to ensuring long-term success of the community of MIPS32 and MIP64 architecture users," added Ed Forbes, director of the applications group, MIPS Technologies. "Our strong existing tools and application support has helped us take the leading position in embedded 32-bit CPU shipments in 1999Gartner Group/Dataquest's "1999 Microprocessor Market Share and Unit Shipments" July 2000 report confirms that MIPS Technologies ranked first in the number of unit shipments of 32-bit and up catalog embedded CPUs. According to the study, MIPS-based embedded processors accounted for 33.6% of the world's nearly 113 million units sold in 1999.

"Green Hills Software has joined the MIPS Alliance Program to create advance software develpment tools that enable the developer to exploit the strengths of MIPS32 and MIPS64 architectures", says John Carbone, vice president of marketing, Green Hills. "The program gives our mutual customers access to Green Hills' total solutions including royalty free, real-time operating systems, optimizing compilers for MIPS32 and MIPS64, and comprehensive MIPS64, and comprehensive integrated development environments (IDEs)".

A list of tool and application vendors already participating in the new MIPS Alliance Program can be found at : "The production release of the Red Hat GNUPro Toolsuite for the MIPS32 and MIPS64 architectures enables developers using the industry standard GNUPro tools to develop leading applications on MIPS technologies for strategic internet infrastructure, wireless, gaming and other embedded platforms," said Michael Tiemann, CTO, Red Hat. "The industry design level is seeing strong marketability of MIPS32 and MIPS64 based processors, and we'll continue to work closely with the MIPS development teams to provide support for embedded or system-on-a-chip solutions."

About the MIPS Alliance Program
The MIPS Alliance Program is open to all qualified providers of development tools and applications that support the MIPS32- or MIPS64-based microprocessors. For more information about the MIPS Alliance Program, email Mark Otto at motto@mips.com

About MIPS Technologies, Inc.
MIPS Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of industry standard processor architectures and cores for digital consumer and network applications. The company drives the broadest architectural alliance that is delivering 32- and 64-bit embedded RISC solutions. The company licenses its intellectual property to semiconductor companies, ASIC developers, and system OEMs. MIPS Technologies, Inc. and its licensees offer the widest range of robust, scalable processors in standard, custom, semi-custom and application-specific products.

Licensees currently include: Alchemy Semiconductor, Inc.; Altera Corporation; ATI Technologies, Inc.; Broadcom Corporation; Centillium Communications, Inc.; Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing; CommQuest (IBM); Conexant Systems, Inc.; empowerTel Networks, Inc.; ESS Technology, Inc.; Gemplus SA; General Instrument Corporation: IDT; inSilicon Corporation; Integrated Telecom Express, Inc. (IteX); LSI Logic Corporation; Macronix; Metalink Ltd.; NEC Corporation; NeoMagic Corporation; NKK Corporation; Philips Semiconductors; Quantum Effect Devices, Inc. (QED); QuickLogic Corporation; Sandcraft, Inc.; SiByte, Inc.; Sony Corporation;Synova; Texas Instruments Incorporated; Toshiba Corporation; Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company; and Virata Corporation. Numerous companies utilize MIPS-based? intellectual property. MIPS Technologies, Inc. is based in Mountain View, California, and can be reached at +1 650-567-5000 or  

MIPS Technologies media contact is

Michael Ritchie
+1-650-567-5026
michaelr@mips.com