Date: 15/07/2012

MIPS processor IP cores gaining popularity in China

While ARM processor core remains extremely popular, Chinese chip makers showing good interest towards MIPS cores. The tablet and smart phone makers use MIPS powered chips for their performance which is comparable to ARM's core powered chips. Action Semiconductor designed its ATM7019 SoC around the MIPS superscalar 74Kf core. The ATM7019 SoC is designed for tablet computer. Another Chinese chipmaker Ingenic Semiconductor also a big MIPS customer in the tablet consumer computing space.

The use of MIPS core is not limited to mobile device space. Some of the industrial customers include:
1. Vango Technologies Inc has announced its going explore MIPS core for use in smart grid product. Vango to leverage MIPS Technologies' popular MIPS32 M14K processor cores to provide 32-bit microcontroller functionality smart meter and smart grid SoCs.

2. China's RF chip maker Nationz Technologies has licensed MIPS Technologies' MIPS32 M4K processor cores for use in its popular 2.4G RFID-SIM/SD mobile payment products.