Philips, NEC, and the digital video PC. CUBE is *not* inside............
[Philips to use the MIPS core. CUBE uses the competing MicroSPARC core in its products.]
techweb.cmp.com
A service of Semiconductor Business News, CMP Media Inc.
Story posted at 3 p.m. EST/noon PST, 11/14/97
NEC, Philips to develop products
with Mips 4300 processor core
TOKYO--NEC Corp. and Philips Electronics NV here today signed an
agreement to jointly develop a new digital video PC-type appliance using an
embedded the VR4300 Mips microprocessor core.
Under the agreement, both firms plan to produce and market the systems,
which will compete head-on with products based on Intel Corp.'s Pentium II
and the upcoming Microsoft Corp. Windows 98 operating system.
Philips already makes an earlier generation Mips chip, which is licensed from
Silicon Graphics Inc. in Mountain View, Calif. However, the Dutch
electronics giant has opted to team with NEC to use its implementation of
the VR4300 Mips core. Last year, NEC shipped more than 19 million units
based on the core, which is primarily used in Nintendo's 64-bit electronic
game player.
Philips will work with NEC on embedding the 64-bit Mips 4300 core as
part of an integrated multimedia chip.
"Strategic alliances are a core component of Philips' business strategy today
and for the future," declared Arthur van der Poel, CEO of Philips
Semiconductors, which is based in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. "Philips has
a policy of ensuring that customers have immediate access to the latest
technologies and the support to exploit these technologies into
market-leading products. The agreement confirms both companies'
commitment to the Mips architecture and means that customers can rely on
using Mips as the global platform for developing consumer electronics
products."
NEC senior executive vice president Hajime Sasaki, who is responsible for
the Semiconductor Group, added that, "Philips is an obvious partner for
NEC, as the company's experience in the consumer electronics market
coupled with our expertise in developing leading-edge Mips technology will
produce a powerful combination." |
