Toshiba gets a shot in the ARM

Toshiba signed an agreement yesterday with chip firm ARM to license the UK-based company's technology for inclusion in its next-generation handheld and digital consumer products.

Under the terms of the deal the Japanese electronics giant will gain rights to the ARM1026EJ-S core for use in system-on-chip (SoC) applications included in its latest digital products.

The ARM1026EJ-S core is a high performance, low power CPU which Toshiba believes will help it expand its high-performance product portfolio.

"ARM technology provides us with the most advanced building blocks available for producing cutting edge digital devices," said Tooru Masaoka, general manager of the Custom and Telecom SoC Division at Toshiba's Semiconductor company.

"By adding the ARM10 family core to our product portfolio we will be able to deliver a range of solutions that target internet appliances, home gateways, image processing and PDAs.

"Demand for these types of products is expanding significantly and the ARM1026EJ-S core will enable us to accelerate the introduction of our next-generation products into these highly demanding markets."