MIPS introduces new chip architecture

MIPS Technologies introduced a chip architecture on Monday that it will license to manufacturers, which, in turn, will use the blueprints to stamp out chips for cell phones and other devices. The MIPS32 24K architecture is designed for chips that are made with 130-nanometer and smaller processes.

Making chips of such small dimensions is proving problematic for many manufacturers. Chips based on the MIPS32 architecture will run at a minimum of 450MHz. The Mountain View, Calif.-based processor designer competes with ARM for supplying chip designs to the handheld market.