IMG / Hitachi

[rake]

Stock excahnge press release today :

Imagination Technologies, the leading provider of human computer interface intellectual property (IP), today announces that it has signed a strategic, multi-use licensing agreement with Hitachi, one of the world's leading global electronics companies.

The agreement enables Hitachi to integrate a number of Imagination Technologies' PowerVR(R) graphics and video cores alongside Hitachi's SuperHTM family RISC microprocessors into SoC (System-on-Chip)semiconductors targeting a broad range of consumer entertainment and information devices.

Under the terms of the agreement Imagination Technologies will receive license, customisation and royalty revenues. The majority of the revenue and cash associated with the licensing and customisation revenues will come through in the 2002/3 financial year with royalty revenue streams following. With reference to our trading statement of 28 March, this agreement forms part of the business concluded during the last quarter.

The SuperH family of high-performance 32-bit processor cores is ideally suited for digital consumer, automotive, gaming and telecommunications applications. By licensing the PowerVR family, Hitachi can develop high speed and low power consumption SoCs with embedded GPU (Graphic Processor Unit) technology suitable for advanced graphics applications. The partnership will enable Hitachi to provide its customers with a range of innovative microprocessors incorporating advanced 3D and video technologies from Imagination Technologies. These products will be marketed by Hitachi into the amusement, car navigation / entertainment and mobile markets.

PowerVR's unique tile based graphics cores offer scalability and performance with unparalleled memory efficiency and image quality. These cores, together with the PowerVR range of complementary IP cores for digital video and display management, provide a rich set of building blocks for emerging markets.

Seiichi Ueda, Director, System Solution Business Unit, Semiconductor &
Integrated Circuits of Hitachi said:

"Selection of the best, proven graphics and video technology partner was critical to continue the success we have with Hitachi's consumer entertainment and multimedia products. We are therefore delighted with the agreement we are announcing with Imagination Technologies. By combining technologies from both Hitachi and Imagination Technologies we can target a wide range of markets that are demanding increased graphics and video functionality. Hitachi will make use of Imagination Technologies' IP across an extensive range of applications and markets with first silicon products expected to reach market in two years."

Hossein Yassaie, CEO of Imagination Technologies, said:

"The combined strength of our PowerVR IP cores and Hitachi's extensive range of silicon technologies, including their advanced processors, address the challenges of the emerging consumer markets. This strength together with the wide-ranging manufacture and marketing capabilities of Hitachi, one of the leading electronics companies in the world, will ensure the success of this partnership."

Remembering how well the SH4 / IMG parts worked together in the Dreamcast, this augers well I reckon. Any thoughts guys?

Rake

 

[Gunhead]

Good. It's nice that IMG gets more clout and revenue to hang on until they get a foundry partner for Kyro III.

What exactly is the "amusement" market Hitachi refers to? "First products in two years", what products? PDAs? Sega ain't making a Dreamcast 2 no more, so I wonder...

 

[mboeller]

Sure;

happy handheld gaming with an IMG/SH5 SoC @320x240x60Hz (with 4xFSAA)

 

[Sonic]

Why do yuo say there won't eventually be a Dreamcast 2?

Sonic

 

[Tagrineth]

There won't be a successor to Dreamcast because Sega pulled out of the console hardware market.

They're gone, finished, they aren't making any more hardware and never will.

They're a full third-party developer now.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

What exactly is the "amusement" market Hitachi refers to? "First products in two years", what products? PDAs? Sega ain't making a Dreamcast 2 no more, so I wonder...

The amusement market conventionally refers to video slot machines, video poker machines, and so on.

 

[Tagrineth]

I just realised, PowerVR could be awesome for the next Game Boy incarnation

 

[Dave Baumann]

Only just realised?

*cough*

 

[Tagrineth]

I hadn't previously read that ^_^;

Odd cos I usually read every B3D article.

 

[Sonic]

Lol, SEGA has not stopped developing hardware. It still continues digging deeper into a technology its invested heavily in. Be it technology to revive the arcade, we're talking low cost hardware that destroys anything an Xbox would be able to do. But take it with a grain of salt.

Sonic

 

[Tagrineth]

Uh, Sega's using the same old Naomi2 in arcades ATM, and are going to use the Nintendo Triforce and AFAIR also the Xbox arcade hardware...

They're done with consoles. They announced when they cancelled Dreamcast production that they were leaving the console hardware market indefinitely, that's why they're a full third-party game developer now. There will never be a successor to Dreamcast. Live with it, life goes on...

 

[kl899]

There will never be a successor to Dreamcast. Live with it, life goes on...

and we'll "never need more the 640k of ram," right?

 

[Tagrineth]

I don't think increasing software power needs will drive another console into the market ;P

It was inevitable that we'd move past 640k RAM, IMO...

 

[Sonic]

The arcade is different from the home console market. More powerful technology has always driven the arcade market, and SEGA sees no reason for this to stop now. It sees reason for it to continue and advance further than what it has in recent years. SEGA may announce indefinite things, just like it announces many things that don't hold true in the long run.

Sonic