SANTA CLARA, California and CAMBRIDGE, England, September 29 /PRNewswire/ --

- ARM to Develop and License Comprehensive Physical IP Design Platform 
Targeted at Achieving Optimal Power, Performance, and Area for Current and 
Future ARM Cortex Processors

IBM (NYSE: IBM), Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd. (Nasdaq:
CHRT, SGX-ST: CHARTERED) Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd., and ARM [(LSE: ARM);
(Nasdaq: ARMH)] today announced they will develop a comprehensive 32
nanometer (nm) and 28nm Systems-on-a-Chip (SoCs) design platform based on
high-k metal-gate (HKMG) technology from the IBM-led joint-development
alliance.

Under this multi-year collaboration, ARM will develop and license a
design platform of physical intellectual property (IP) including logic,
memory and interface products for the Common Platform technology alliance of
IBM, Chartered and Samsung for distribution to their customers

ARM also announced its intent to develop customized physical IP targeted
at achieving optimal power, performance, and area for their current and
future Cortex(TM) processor family leveraging the unique attributes of the
Common Platform HKMG 32nm/28nm technology. The HKMG technology breaks down
the historical barrier of scaling, allowing significant power and performance
advantage by utilizing new material science innovations. This technology
targets a broad range of embedded segments, including mobile, portable and
consumer electronics.

The early parallel development work between ARM and the Common Platform
alliance leverages their respective industry-leading expertise in processor
IP, physical IP and technology development. This combination will facilitate
design scaling and accelerate the market availability of next generation
mobile devices with unmatched performance, outstanding battery life and
reduced cost.

"Through this early engagement, we are creating the foundation for
designing power-efficient ARM(R) SoCs for customers of the Common Platform,"
said Warren East, CEO, ARM . "By utilizing the strength of our advanced
microprocessors, our leadership in Physical IP design and advanced technology
supported by the Common Platform, customers can accelerate the release of
products for electronic devices that service a broad range of consumer
applications."

The Common Platform partners expect to continue to expand the eco-system
in this collaborative initiative to include more members in the near future.
These additional partners will expand the offering of EDA support, services
and IP offerings to enable customers to accelerate their time to market on
these advanced technologies.

"IBM remains convinced collaborative innovation in an open ecosystem of
partners is the key to technology leadership, both now and in the years to
come," said Mike Cadigan, general manager, Semiconductor Solutions, IBM.
"Today's announcement with ARM extends that strategy to the next level, from
IBM research through Common Platform manufacturing to the leading consumer
application architecture. With the extensions of our agreements to the 32nm
generation, IBM is working together with its alliance partners to deliver
leading-edge technology that promises to dramatically change the way we live,
work and play."

"Today, customers require a new level of ecosystem interdependancy to
address the complexity of total system solutions. ARM's collaboration with
the Common Platform partners will drive a new level of optimized,
power-efficient SoCs," said Chia Song Hwee, president and CEO of Chartered.
"The Common Platform's joint development and ecosystem collaboration is the
leading model for moving invention to open industry access."

"This collaboration provides our mutual customers with leading design
solutions that combine our HKMG breakthroughs in 32nm process technology and
ARM's optimized low-power, high-performance cores and libraries," said Dr.
Chang Sik Choi, executive vice president, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. "With
high volume manufacturing in our Common Platform fabs, customers will benefit
with time to volume advantages critical to success in the fast moving
consumer electronics market."

About the Common Platform

IBM, Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing and Samsung Electronics have
forged a unique manufacturing collaboration featuring bulk CMOS 32nm, 45nm,
65nm and 90nm process technologies. By combining the expertise and research
resources of all three companies and leveraging advances such as high-k metal
gate technology, 193nm immersion lithography and ultralow-k dielectrics, the
Common Platform(TM) technology collaboration is able to accelerate the
availability of leading-edge technology to foundry customers. The Common
Platform model is supported by a comprehensive design-enablement ecosystem,
enabling foundry customers to easily source their chip designs to multiple
300-mm foundries with minimal design work and with unprecedented flexibility
and choice.

About ARM

ARM designs the technology that lies at the heart of advanced digital
products, from wireless, networking and consumer entertainment solutions to
imaging, automotive, security and storage devices. ARM's comprehensive
product offering includes 32-bit RISC microprocessors, graphics processors,
enabling software, cell libraries, embedded memories, high-speed connectivity
products, peripherals and development tools. Combined with comprehensive
design services, training, support and maintenance, and the company's broad
Partner community, they provide a total system solution that offers a fast,
reliable path to market for leading electronics companies. More information
on ARM is available at http://www.arm.com.

About IBM

For additional information visit http://www.ibm.com.

About Chartered

Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd. (Nasdaq: CHRT, SGX-ST:
CHARTERED), one of the world's top dedicated semiconductor foundries, offers
leading-edge technologies down to 65 nanometer (nm), enabling today's
system-on-chip designs. The company further serves its customers' needs
through a collaborative, joint development approach on a technology roadmap
that extends to 22nm. Chartered's strategy is based on open and comprehensive
design enablement solutions, manufacturing enhancement strategies, and a
commitment to flexible sourcing. In Singapore, the company operates a 300mm
fabrication facility and five 200mm facilities. Information about Chartered
can be found at http://www.charteredsemi.com.

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor,
telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with
2007 consolidated sales of US$103.4 billion. Employing approximately 150,000
people in 134 offices in 62 countries, the company consists of four main
business units: Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business,
and Telecommunication Business. Recognized as one of the fastest growing
global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs,
memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit
http://www.samsung.com.