VIA pledges to support ARM processor range
Vendor reveals plans to incorporate chip-maker's offerings in upcoming portable devices
VIA Technologies has revealed it will stick with the ARM processor range for its portable devices strategy.
The company, which specialises in low-power mobile devices and PC platform solutions, said that it has extended its alliance with chip-maker ARM, by licensing the ARM926EJ-S and ARM968E-S processors.
They will be used to power a wide range of portable media and mobile devices throughout the year. The deal reinforces VIA’s push into the growing market for portable devices with increased performance, lower power consumption and advanced multimedia capabilities.
Roger Kay, analyst with research firm Endpoint Technologies Associates, said: “These processors, with their low power consumption, flexibility and low cost, will allow VIA to pursue new opportunities in emerging device categories. The agreement with ARM will enable it to use its existing IP in connectivity, storage, and graphics to address new products in the mobility and personal entertainment areas.”
The ARM926EJ-S macrocell features a Jazelle technology enhanced 32bit Risc CPU, flexible size instruction and data caches, tightly coupled memory interfaces and memory management unit. The ARM968E-S macrocell is a 32bit Risc processor aimed specifically at embedded real-time applications and is ARM’s smallest chip to date.
Tzumu Lin, senior vice-president at VIA, said: “As VIA looked to enhance existing product lines and move into digitally intelligent device markets, the ARM family of processors stood out as the natural choice.”
Ian Drew, vice-president of segment marketing at ARM, said: “Increasing needs for expanded functionality in a wide range of personal electronics is leading innovators such as VIA to choose ARM technology as the architecture of choice. These processors deliver a solid development environment and the power to run tomorrow’s applications. This agreement is an important step in accelerating the adoption of ARM processor technology into key digital device markets.”
VIA has also unveiled its PC plans with a preview of its forthcoming Vogue PC, a series of customisable mini-ITX PCs that will come with a ‘wardrobe’ of designer shell outfits. End-users will be able to pick from a number of styles and use a variety of materials.
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