ARC Launches New Annual Licensing Model for Multimedia Codecs
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ARC Launches New Annual Licensing Model for Multimedia Codecs

SAN JOSE, Calif. & ST. ALBANS, England—(BUSINESS WIRE)—June 25, 2008— ARC International (LSE:ARK), a leading provider of consumer intellectual property (IP) to OEM and semiconductor companies, has launched a new, innovative licensing model for its industry leading multimedia software libraries (codecs). ARCs extensive portfolio of audio, video and imaging codecs are now packaged into annually licensable libraries. This helps simplify the planning of chip companies, allowing them to better meet the constantly changing requirements of evolving consumer electronics devices.

Codec Libraries Help Maximize Success and Minimize Risk

Semiconductor companies face the challenge of creating chips that enable playback of any content, anywhere and on any device. Chip designers need to plan for supporting a large number of existing multimedia codecs as well as new standards that reflect the changing landscape of the consumer electronics industry. ARCs new multimedia codec libraries help chip developers target multiple markets with the same solution, thereby maximizing the success of their ARC-Based designs.

Multimedia Codec Libraries Help Minimize Cost

Using ARCs new subscription model, designers can easily subscribe to the multimedia libraries of their choice on an annual basis and be assured of access to all currently supported and future standards. ARCs new approach also simplifies accounting and licensing by eliminating per-codec purchases.

As ARC continues to improve its software codecs and increases support for new formats, the annual subscription model will ensure that the customers have access to all the new technologies as they become available. For example, ARCs recently released MP3 low power decoder lowers power consumption by 15 percent, and under the new subscription model, would be available to subscribers automatically.

Codec Libraries Help Maintain Competitive Edge

ARC is focused on enabling consumers to capture, share and play multimedia so that they can enjoy any content, anywhere, at any time, added Bill Jackson, ARCs vice president of marketing. This creates an ever growing requirement for codecs that is best addressed by this new licensing model. Our fixed-price, all-you-can-use codec library model ensures customers can have access to the current and future codecs required for their application for an annual subscription price. This provides a compelling competitive edge for our customers ensuring that they always have the latest codec available to them.

ARCs Application-Optimized Codec Libraries

Each library contains the codecs that are appropriate for a specific type of application. All codecs are fully standards compliant, certified, pre-verified and optimized to run on ARCs designs. Together with ARCs multimedia subsystems, the codec libraries provide market ready solutions for a wide range of applications such as digital photo frames, mobile TV handsets, camcorders, Digital TVs, set top boxes, cameras, portable media players, and mobile phones.

About ARC International plc

ARC International is a world leading provider of consumer IP to OEM and semiconductor companies globally. ARCs award-winning, vertically integrated audio and video solutions enable high quality multimedia content to be captured, shared, and played on a wide range of electronics devices. ARCs 140+ customers collectively ship hundreds of millions of ARC-Based chips annually in products such as Mobile TVs, Portable Media Players, WiFi-/WiMAX-enabled computers, flash storage, digital cameras, network appliances, and medical and government systems.

ARC International maintains a worldwide presence with corporate and research and development offices in San Jose and Lake Tahoe, Calif., St. Albans, England, and St. Petersburg, Russia. For more information visit www.ARC.com. ARC International is listed on the London Stock Exchange as ARC International plc (LSE:ARK).

ARC and ARC-Based are trademarks or registered trademarks of ARC International. All other brands or product names contained herein are the property of their respective owners. This press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties, including the development, implementation, and release of features described herein. These are at the sole discretion of ARC International. Licenses from 3rd parties for certain software and essential patents may be required depending on licensee's use/implementation. For other factors that could cause actual results to differ, visit the companys Website as well as the listing particulars filed with the United Kingdom Listing Authority and the Registrar of Companies in England and Wales.



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