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SAN JOSE, Calif--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 19, 2001-- inSilicon Corporation (Nasdaq:INSN), a leading provider of communications semiconductor intellectual property (IP), and Insight Electronics, a global semiconductor distributor, today announced an agreement that provides access to high-level IP through distribution. The agreement authorizes Insight, Xilinx's leading distributor and design source, to add inSilicon's extensive communications IP offerings to Insight's Xilinx field programmable gate array (FPGA) portfolio. At the same time, inSilicon gains the potential to increase its customer base significantly by making IP available through the Insight distribution channel.

Accessing IP through the distribution channel gives customers an easy way to obtain high-level IP for FPGAs, which are primarily purchased through distribution. The inSilicon/Insight agreement allows customers to work with Insight and Xilinx to not only easily access this technology, but to also implement IP in their designs.

Advances in silicon processes enable OEMs to create cost-effective system-on-a-chip (SOC) designs in programmable logic. Combined with the low-risk inherent to programmable logic technology, this results in a faster time to market. ``The time is right for more efficient deployment of intellectual property cores for use in FPGAs,'' stated Dr. Murray Disman, editor of the Programmable Logic News and Views monthly newsletter. ``Thanks to advanced silicon processes, the latest generation of FPGAs now have the capacity to include multiple IP components. Customers will clearly benefit from the ability to obtain design services, IP, and FPGAs from a single source.''

Insight is uniquely equipped with the focus, skill and experience that FPGA-based SOC solutions require. Specifically, a dedicated division, MemecCore, has been created to focus exclusively on intellectual property deployment. ``Insight has had an IP program as part of our design services group for the last four years,'' said Mark Buckhalt, director of Intellectual Property for MemecCore. ``During this time we've learned a lot about the technology, market and business models that work for our FPGA customers. Applying this knowledge to inSilicon's proven technology provides a streamlined design flow enabling a time-to-market advantage for Insight's customers.''

John Weekley, director of Business Development for inSilicon, said, ``This agreement not only gives customers broader access to intellectual property, it provides a single focal point for efficient IP use and product design. Working with Insight as a one-stop source, customers get solutions based on the value benefits of IP-enhanced Xilinx FPGAs. As a result, customers can expect faster system delivery to the market. At the same time, Insight's leadership role in driving broader efficiencies for FPGA design will signal a new market trend in FPGA design methodology.''

``This agreement fits very closely with the strategy employed by the Memec group companies. Insight Electronics provides our customers with solutions for the total life-cycle management of their products,'' added Greg Provenzano, president and CEO of Insight Electronics. ``IP is a key component in providing our customers with the time-to-market advantage they need. We have the proven capabilities to design high-performance FPGA semiconductors that let companies enter new markets quickly and then ramp to volume production.''

``With one contact, customers can now tap the resources of our three companies,'' stated Steve Haynes, Vice-president of Worldwide Sales for Xilinx. ``inSilicon and Insight have added a new dimension to the Xilinx alliance, demonstrating the benefits that partnering can bring.''

Under terms of the Insight/inSilicon agreement, Insight provides all customer support services including licensing of inSilicon IP technology optimized for Xilinx FPGAs. In turn, inSilicon has licensed its IP technology and test environments to Insight, also providing training and support.

The Xilinx-optimized inSilicon communications IP technology, custom integration and development services are available now from Insight Electronics.

About inSilicon

inSilicon Corporation is a leading provider of communications semiconductor intellectual property used by semiconductor and systems companies to design systems-on-chip that are critical components of innovative wired and wireless products. inSilicon's technology provides customers faster time-to-market and reduced risk and development cost. The company's broad portfolio of analog and mixed-signal products and enabling communications technologies, including the JVX(TM) and JVXtreme(TM) Java(TM) Accelerators, Bluetooth, Ethernet, USB, PCI, and IEEE-1394, are used in a wide variety of markets encompassing communications, consumer, computing, and office automation. inSilicon is a subsidiary of Phoenix Technologies (Nasdaq: PTEC). Information about inSilicon products and technologies is available at http://www.insilicon.com.

About Insight Electronics

Insight Electronics, a Memec company, is the largest technical distributor of semiconductors in the world. With divisions in every major country and a focused line card of 20 top semiconductor companies, Insight's sales team and field application engineers (FAEs) are as knowledgeable as its suppliers about the products, processes and technologies available. The company's value-added services, combined with its expertise in design, inventory management, logistics and use of e-business tools, ensure that customers receive the products they need, when and where they need them.

inSilicon, JVX and JVXtreme are trademarks of inSilicon Corporation.

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