MIPS Technologies licenses Atmel Corporation a MIPS64 5K core for the next generation of set-top box designs

 MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., January 10, 2001 - MIPS Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: MIPS, MIPSB), a leading provider of industry standard processor architectures and cores for digital consumer and network applications, today announced that Atmel Corporation (NASDAQ: ATML) has licensed a MIPS64 5K core for implementation of medium and high end set-top boxes (STBs).

MIPS64 5K is a family of high performance, synthesizable cores, which are based on the MIPS64 instruction set architecture (ISA). Atmel plans to leverage its MIPS Technologies license to enable its STBs with broadband entertainment features such as video-on-demand, streaming video and audio, and interactive TV and cable telephony.

"Atmel chose MIPS Technologies because it offers the only synthesizable 64-bit processor available to enable next generation STBs, which combine often disparate requirements such as high processing power and low power consumption," said Tassos Markas, director of multimedia at Atmel Corporation. "Atmel is recognized as one of the world's leading producers of system-on-chip solutions including several products designed specifically for the set top box market." He added, "This has been achieved, in part, by partnering with other leading edge companies like MIPS Technologies."

"MIPS Technologies continues to give customers the flexibility to innovate and maintain their competitive edge," said Muhammad Helal, vice president of North American business development and sales for MIPS Technologies. "Atmel is a leader in the STB field and we welcome them to the MIPS community. Furthermore our agreement demonstrates MIPS Technologies' leadership in digital entertainment applications."

About Atmel Corporation
Founded in 1984, Atmel Corporation is headquartered in San Jose, California with manufacturing facilities in North America and Europe. Atmel designs, manufactures and markets worldwide, advanced logic, mixed-signal, nonvolatile memory and RF semiconductors. Atmel is also a leading provider of programmable system-level integration semiconductor solutions using CMOS, BiCMOS, bipolar SiGe, and high-voltage BCDMOS process technologies.

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., Atmel Corporation, Broadcom Corporation, Centillium Communications Inc., Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd., Conexant Systems Inc., EmpowerTel Networks (formally known as Lara Technology Inc.), ESS Technology Inc., Gemplus International S.A., Integrated Device Technology (IDT) Inc., inSilicon Corporation, Integrated Telecom Express (ITeX) Inc., LSI Logic Corporation, Macronix America Inc., Metalink Ltd., Micron Technology Inc., General Instrument Corporation (acquired by Motorola Inc.), NEC Corporation, NeoMagic Corporation, NKK Corporation, Palmchip Corporation, Philips Semiconductors International B.V., Quantum Effect Devices Inc. (acquired by PMC-Sierra Inc.), QuickLogic Corporation, Sandcraft Inc., SiByte Inc., Sony Corporation, Synova Incorporated, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, TeraLogic, Inc., Texas Instruments Incorporated, Toshiba Corporation and Excess Bandwidth Corporation (acquired by Virata Corporation). Numerous companies utilize MIPS-based intellectual property. MIPS Technologies Inc. is based in Mountain View, Calif., and can be reached at +1 650-567-5000 or http://www.mips.com

Atmel product and financial information can be retrieved from its Fax-on-Demand service. In North America call 1-(800) 292-8635. Internationally from a fax phone, dial 1-(408) 441-0732. Requests may be sent via e-mail to literature@atmel.com or by visiting Atmel¹s website at www.atmel.com. © Atmel Corporation 2001. All rights reserved. Atmel, the Atmel logo and combinations thereof and others contained herein, are trademarks of Atmel Corporation.

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