Decomsys And ARM Announce New Automotive Prototyping Platform With Flexray Support

VIENNA, AUSTRIA AND CAMBRIDGE, UK - July 31, 2003 - DECOMSYS, the FlexRay Solution provider, and ARM [(LSE:ARM); (Nasdaq:ARMHY)], the industry's leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC processor solutions, today announced the availability of a new prototyping platform for the FlexRay standard and other automotive interconnect standards such as CAN, TTCAN, and LIN, based on the high-performance ARM9™ core family-based Excalibur device from Altera.

The DECOMSYS::NODE<ARM> product is one the first integrated prototyping platform for the emerging new FlexRay communication standard for automotive electronics. This technology enables the evaluation and analysis of the FlexRay standard and other automotive prototyping projects, e.g. using FPGAs, and facilitates application testing, in the lab as well as in prototype cars.

"DECOMSYS and ARM have a strong focus on the automotive industry, especially on the fast growing segment of x-by-wire applications. Over the next decade, advanced high speed control applications like brake-by-wire will become available, requiring high dependability and performance of the car's computer infrastructure," said Michael Sprachmann, managing partner, DECOMSYS. "Our new solution will have an enormous impact on the development of such prototypes. It offers a cost-effective platform which combines innovative flexibility (400k FPGA) with high-performance ARM® technology."

"Automotive prototyping is a field with enormous market potential as new electronic and communication systems are introduced. Our collaboration with DECOMSYS will give Partners and their key suppliers an important new platform for evaluating projects, helping to significantly reduce costs and increase reliability," said Wolfgang Kattermann, segment manager automotive, ARM. "The DECOMSYS::NODE<ARM> product answers the need for a prototyping evaluation platform demonstrating outstanding versatility and expandability, and thus opens an interesting market for ARM and its Partners."

Availability
The prototyping platform is available from DECOMSYS from August 1, 2003.

About ARM
ARM is the industry's leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC microprocessor solutions. The company licenses its high-performance, low-cost, power-efficient RISC processors, peripherals, and system-chip designs to leading international electronics companies. ARM also provides comprehensive support required in developing a complete system. ARM's microprocessor cores are rapidly becoming a volume RISC standard in markets such as portable communications, hand-held computing, multimedia digital consumer and embedded solutions.

About DECOMSYS
DECOMSYS is one of the driving forces in the development of dependable computer systems in the automotive field. The way to more safety, economy, enjoyment, and comfort for the drivers will be enabled by a completely new generation of more complex, fault-tolerant electronics that will gradually replace their mechanical counterparts. For the development of these "thinking" systems, the automobile manufacturers need the appropriate tools. DECOMSYS offers the leading and comprehensive portfolio of soft- and hardware, training as well as engineering services especially for the FlexRay protocol.

Since FlexRay is going to be the communication backbone of the distributed electronic of tomorrow's cars, the client list reads like the who-is-who of the automotive and high-tech world. They all rely on the extensive scientific experience the DECOMSYS staff has gained in two EU research projects on TTA (Time Triggered Architecture) and X-By-Wire (e.g. Brake-By-Wire, the computerized braking) at the Vienna University of Technology.

Emmerich Fuchs, Dietmar Millinger, and Michael Sprachmann established DECOMSYS in 1999. Since then, they have been translating the specific expertise in a technological and economical success story - conjointly with approximately 40 experts networking in flexible, task-oriented teams.

-ENDS-

ARM is a registered trademark of ARM Limited. ARM9 is a trademark of ARM Limited. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders. "ARM" is used to represent ARM Holdings plc (LSE: ARM and Nasdaq: ARMHY); its operating company ARM Limited; and the regional subsidiaries ARM INC.; ARM KK; ARM Korea Ltd.; ARM Taiwan; ARM France SAS; and ARM Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.