New MIPS-Based ICS and Systems demonstrate wide-spread adoption of architecture in digital entertainment and networking applications

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., (MAY 16, 2000) MIPS Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:MIPS) announced that its licensees made a significant number of important semiconductor and system product introductions at the NetWorld+Interop 2000, Cable2000 and E3 (Electronic Entertainment Exposition) shows last week.

"These new MIPS-based[tm] products clearly demonstrate the widespread acceptance of the MIPS® architecture in the fast growing digital entertainment and networking market segments," said Brian Knowles, vice president of marketing at MIPS Technologies, Inc. "Exciting new digital entertainment systems require high performance compute engines and high bandwidth network systems require high bandwidth processing power. In both markets, advanced MIPS-based 32- and 64-bit processor IP (intellectual property) is increasingly becoming the standard."

New MIPS-based[tm] semiconductor devices include the BCM7100 single-chip device for cable set-top boxes from Broadcom Corporation, the 64-bit µPD98501 network controller from NEC, and the TX49[tm] family of 64-bit processor cores from Toshiba.

New MIPS-based systems and enhancements include the Sony PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system, now scheduled for North American release on October 26th, 2000; the Microsoft WebTV, with numerous new enhanced software features; and the Motorola DCT 5000+ digital set-top box with many new enhanced features.

Broadcom announced that Pioneer Digital Technologies and Pace Micro Technology plc are currently developing set-top boxes for use by Time Warner and have selected the BCM7100 for their two-way digital cable TV interactive set-top boxes. Broadcom also introduced the BCM93710 reference design for rapid development of new systems.

NEC Corporation announced it has begun to sample the µPD98501 network controller. It features a MIPS-based 64-bit CPU core and includes an ATM cell processor that supports Voice over DSL (VoDSL), a USB controller, and two 10/100 Mbps Ethernet controllers capable of supporting a typical small office/home office (SOHO) router application. Volume shipments are scheduled for July 2000.

Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. introduced the TX49[tm] family of MIPS-based 64-bit embedded ASIC cores. The TX49H family of cores is available in the Toshiba 0.25-micron ASIC process technology. The TX49 is available with and without a Floating Point Unit and with different size caches.

MIPS-based systems and enhancement products include the Microsoft WebTV with native support for Microsoft Windows Media[tm], and the Motorola DCT 5000+ digital set-top box with Microsoft TV Advanced client software. WebTV uses a MIPS-based processor from QED and the Motorola DCT 5000+ set-top box uses 32-bit MIPS processor technology. In addition, using the power of the MIPS-based processing technology at the heart of the Motorola DCT 5000+, service and software providers Intertainer, Inc. and SeaChange International, Inc. announced that the two companies will enable the Entertainment On Demand service for the DCT 5000+. In addition, Worldgate Communications, Inc. announced plans to integrate Worldgate's Internet on EVERY TV® Service with the Microsoft TV Platform on the DCT 5000+ set-top box.

"The digital future is coming closer every day," said James Mac Hale, director of semiconductor licensee marketing at MIPS Technologies. "These announcements at semiconductor, system and software/service levels demonstrates that digital convergence is real and that MIPS-based processors and cores lie at the heart of the products that are driving this phenomenon."

MIPS-based processor cores and CPU's offer a number of advantages in integrated digital entertainment and networking products. First, support for 64-bit data movement in the instruction set, registers and on-chip busses enables higher data transfer rates. Second, strong software and tool support for the MIPS architecture speeds product development cycles, especially critical in the fast-moving digital entertainment and networking markets. Finally, the MIPS architecture offers an attractive technology roadmap with the largest number of processor cores designed for easy integration into SOCs, and the broadest range of compatible cores from 64-bit full-custom superscalar cores down to 32-bit low-power cores less than 1mm2 in die area.

In a recent study, Gartner Group/Dataquest found that in 2000, embedded MIPS-based processor cores had the highest perceived demand of any processor architecture with 22% of all system-level integration designs, up from 16% in 1999.

About MIPS Technologies, Inc. MIPS Technologies, Inc. is one of the world's primary architects of embedded 32- and 64-bit RISC processors. 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.; ATI Technologies, Inc.; Broadcom Corporation; Centillium Communications, Inc.; Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing; CommQuest (IBM); ESS Technology, Inc.; Excess Bandwidth; General Instrument Corporation; Integrated Device Technology, Inc. (IDT); Lara Networks, Inc.; LSI Logic Corporation; Macronix; Metalink Ltd.; NEC Corporation; NKK Corporation; Philips Semiconductors; Quantum Effect Devices, Inc. (QED); QuickLogic Corporation, Sandcraft, Inc.; SiByte, Inc.; Sony Corporation; Synova; Texas Instruments Incorporated; Toshiba Corporation; and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). Numerous companies utilize MIPS-based[tm] intellectual property. MIPS Technologies, Inc. is based in Mountain View, California, and can be reached at 650-567-5000 or http://www.mips.com.

MIPS is a registered trademark and MIPS-based is a trademark of MIPS Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies. All press materials are available on the World Wide Web via: http://www.mips.com.