Acorn strengthen Digital TV technology focus with new Silicon design facility 15 December 1998, Cambridge, UK -- Acorn Group plc (ACN) today announced that its 100%-held operating company, Acorn Computers Limited, is establishing a new multimedia silicon design facility in Bristol, UK. This follows the successful recruitment by Acorn of seven senior design leaders and engineers, who will form the initial team operating the new facility. The new facility will be fully operational by 1 February 1999 and will strongly compliment Acorn's existing multimedia silicon architecture, software and system design skills. This new facility will enable Acorn to adopt a 'software on silicon' business model for the next generation of multimedia devices. Simon Knowles, Acorn's new VP Silicon Design, will lead the Bristol facility. The team, successfully recruited by Acorn, is one of Europe's most highly-regarded expert sub-micron silicon implementation groups, with very strong expertise in microprocessor, analogue, memory, video and EDA tools design. "We are delighted to have joined forces with this highly skilled team in the pursuit of high-performance, multimedia, silicon designs for next generation digital TV systems," says Stan Boland, Acorn's CEO. "The processing power in or around the TV set is forecast to increase dramatically over the next five years. This is driven by higher resolution streamed TV programming in many parts of the world (HDTV), as well as greater image manipulation and interactivity to drive up operators' revenues. The combination of our architectural and software capability with our new silicon implementation team will allow us to generate integrated licensable intellectual property (IP) to support the consumer electronics market." Simon Knowles commented, "The excellent fit between the skills of the Bristol team and the advanced architecture skills of Acorn is remarkable. We are convinced that the new grouping will generate highly appropriate multimedia silicon and software IP for the consumer electronics industry within a short space of time, and are excited by the opportunities this will bring." The digital TV silicon implementation team is furthering plans that Acorn announced earlier this year. In June, Acorn appointed a new management group, led by CEO Stan Boland. In September, Acorn announced it was halting further development of its legacy PC business and focussing on the creation of next generation digital TV devices. This is building on Acorn's strong silicon architecture and software design skills and its existing acTiVe digital TV set top box business. Acorn also announced initial collaborations with Intel on its StrongARM-based programs. About Acorn Computers Limited Acorn is a technology design company, with a strong market focus on Digital interactive TV (DiTV). Acorn offers world-class capabilities in complete product, silicon, operating systems and software component design. Acorn solutions provide high levels of functionality, the flexibility that only software can provide, and a reduced component count. Due to Acorn's independent status as a design company, their technologies can be applied in a range of applications across the consumer electronics industry. TRAMPAMPOLINE Locating information on this site - Table of contents © Element 14 Ltd 1999