Intel goes 64-bit for MMX for mobiles

By Steve Malone

Posted on 15 Mar 2005 at 11:02

With the boom in 3G phones and video streaming to mobile devices showing no sign of abating, Intel has said that it has developed a new version of its MMX multimedia technology for mobile devices. The new version, Wireless MMX2, offers 64-bit extensions to improve video streaming and offer better battery life to a new generation of mobile phones.

MMX2 is a set of 64-bit Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) instructions similar to the Streaming SIMD Extensions (SSE) that Intel introduced for the x86 instruction set. The MMX2 Mobile extensions work on producing packed floating-point data to provide better graphics and video and offer improved battery life.

Intel Wireless MMX2 technology will be available in future XScale-based platforms. The Intel XScale microarchitecture is based on a new core compliant with the popular ARM design commonly used in modern mobile phones.

Intel says the extensions are backward compatible so that developers can build on previous work. The company also says that the Wireless MMX2 instructions will be supported by the Intel Integrated Performance Primitives (IPP).

In a statement, Mark Casey, general manager, Applications Processor Business Unit for Intel's Cellular Handheld Group said 'Intel's Wireless MMX2 technology simplifies the design of complicated multimedia applications, enabling phone manufacturers and carriers to deliver innovative services and high-end content. Consumers can enjoy a better mobile experience and carriers can provide a broader range of handsets and tools.'