Motorola® Announces ARM920T Core-Based DragonBall MX1 Multimedia Platform

AUSTIN, Texas, Jun 12, 2001 /PRNewswire/ -- Motorola, Inc.'s (NYSE: MOT) Semiconductor Products Sector, the embedded mobile computing leader with cellular systems expertise, is expanding its DragonBall family of best-selling microprocessors with the ARM920T core-based DragonBall MX1.

"Motorola has been a valued supplier to the Palm OS licensees, whom we refer to as the Palm Economy. We expect DragonBall MX1 will be important as handheld users require converging wireless and multimedia applications," said Alan Kessler, general manager of Palm's Platform Solutions Group.

The DragonBall MX1 provides the first Bluetooth(TM) ready applications processor platform announced from a major worldwide semiconductor supplier. This Bluetooth(TM) technology, combined with the on-chip USB, Multi-Media Accelerator, color LCD controller, A/D converter, Multi-Media Card/Secure Digital and Memory Stick expansion card controllers replaces six ICs with a single-chip optimal multimedia platform.

"Our DragonBall MX1 empowers the approximately 155,000 Palm OS software developers to now write programs for a wide range of wireless applications. This allows the smoothest migration between the 68K and ARM architecture due to the high-level of reuse from the most widely accepted handset peripheral set," said Omid Tahernia, vice president and general manager of Motorola's Wireless Mobile Systems Division. "Our system-on-chip integration offers the lowest power consumption and system cost to meet the market-driven needs for an embedded applications processor system solution."

As the first ARM core-based DragonBall product, the DragonBall MX1 targets next generation handheld computers, including those based on the industry leading Palm OS, as well as 2.5G / 3G wirelessly connected mobile products, smart phones, advanced information appliances and Web browsers/tablets. Mobile computing products can leverage DragonBall MX1's ARM920T core with speeds up to 200 MHz, and on-chip integration for very efficient MP3 and MPEG4 media processing.

To deliver total solutions to the market, the DragonBall family benefits from intellectual property agreements between Motorola and ARM for ARM920T core technology on the DragonBall MX1; Sony Corporation for Memory Stick(TM) interface on DragonBall MX1 and Super VZ; Digianswer A/S for Bluetooth(TM) wireless technology on DragonBall MX1; and Metrowerks for CodeWarrior(R) on the DragonBall Super VZ and DragonBall MX1; Motorola is a board member of the Secure Digital Association for Secure Digital (SD) interface on DragonBall MX1 and Super VZ.

With nearly 30 million devices shipped to date and the support of a suite of software and reference designs, the DragonBall name is synonymous with industry-leading handheld organizers and other portable wireless products. Introduced in 1995, the DragonBall microprocessor is featured in all Palm OS(R) devices today. According to industry analyst firm, IDC, the DragonBall is found in more than 75% of all the world's personal digital assistants (PDAs).

About Palm

Palm, Inc. is a pioneer in the field of mobile and wireless Internet solutions and a leading provider of handheld computers, according to IDC (December 2000). Based on the Palm OS(R) platform, Palm's handheld solutions allow people to carry and access their most critical information with them wherever they go. Palm(TM) handhelds address the needs of individuals, enterprises and educational institutions through thousands of application solutions.

The Palm OS platform is also the foundation for products from Palm's licensees and strategic partners, such as Franklin Covey, Handspring, IBM, Kyocera, Sony, Symbol Technologies, and HandEra (formerly TRG). Platform licensees also include Nokia and Samsung. The Palm Economy is a growing global community of industry leading licensees, world class OEM customers, and approximately 155,000 innovative developers and solution providers that have registered to develop solutions based on the Palm OS platform. Palm went public on March 2, 2000. Its stock is traded on the Nasdaq national market under the symbol PALM. More information is available at http://www.palm.com.

About Motorola

As the world's #1 producer of embedded processors, Motorola's Semiconductor Products Sector offers multiple DigitalDNA(TM) technologies that enable its customers to create "smart" products and new business opportunities in the networking and computing, wireless communications, transportation and home networking markets. Motorola's worldwide semiconductor sales were $7.9 billion (USD) in 2000. http://www.motorola.com/semiconductors

Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) is a global leader in providing integrated communications and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 2000 were $37.6 billion. http://www.motorola.com

MOTOROLA, the Stylized M Logo and all other trademarks indicated as such herein are trademarks of Motorola, Inc. (R) Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. The Bluetooth trademarks are owned by their proprietor and used by Motorola, Inc. under license. Palm OS is a registered trademark and Palm is a trademark of Palm, Inc. or its subsidiaries. "ARM" is used to represent ARM Holdings plc (Nasdaq: ARMHY; London: ARM); its operating company ARM Limited; and the regional subsidiaries ARM, INC.; ARM KK; ARM Korea Ltd.; ARM Taiwan.

All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders.
    (c) 2001 Motorola, Inc.  All rights reserved.  Printed in the U.S.A.
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Carolyn Smith, Motorola, 512-895-2446, carolyn.g.smith@motorola.com

CONTACT:
                  Carolyn Smith of Motorola, 512-895-2446,
                  carolyn.g.smith@motorola.com