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Altera and Synplicity Partnership to Aid in Synthesis of Intellectual Property for SOPC Designs
SUNNYVALE & SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 3, 2001--
Altera Corporation (Nasdaq:ALTR), a leading supplier of
programmable logic devices, and Synplicity, Inc. (Nasdaq:SYNP), a
leading supplier of software for the design and verification of
semiconductors, today announced a multi-level partnership that will
enhance the implementation of intellectual property (IP) in
system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) applications. Synplicity has
agreed to provide Synplify Pro(TM) and Amplify(TM) licenses to Altera
for use in the development of Altera's MegaCore® functions. In
addition, Synplicity has agreed to provide a special version of its
synthesis software to Altera customers for use with Altera's encrypted
MegaCore functions.
``As more customers adopt our SOPC solutions, the development
methodology is critical in the successful implementation and
integration of IP,'' said Craig Lytle, Altera vice president of
intellectual property business unit. ``Leveraging Synplicity's
synthesis technology for the development of our MegaCore functions
will enable Altera to continue to deliver the highest performance
cores to our customers. Our customers, in turn, will have access to
Synplicity synthesis technology when integrating our MegaCore
functions in their SOPC designs.''
Altera's MegaWizard® technology allows users to parameterize
MegaCore functions to meet specific design objectives, greatly
reducing the time spent in design. In addition, the MegaWizard
parameters can be passed through to third-party design tools,
providing a highly integrated design solution. As a result of the
agreement, the companies expect Altera customers will be able to use
Synplicity synthesis technology to synthesize encrypted MegaCore
functions to achieve superior results.
``Partnering with Altera, the pioneer of
system-on-a-programmable-chip products, is consistent with our
strategy to provide synthesis technology at both the development and
implementation stages of IP use,'' said Joe Gianelli, director of
channel marketing at Synplicity. ``We are looking forward to working
with Altera to provide an advanced design synthesis flow so that our
mutual customers can achieve high performance and efficiency from
Altera's MegaCore functions.''
In addition, under terms of the agreement, Altera will also
distribute evaluation copies of selected Synplicity® synthesis
products with the Quartus(TM) II development software, which provides
a comprehensive environment for SOPC design. Altera's Quartus II
software supports the APEX(TM) device family and Excalibur(TM)
embedded processor solutions and the Mercury(TM) family of
programmable ASSPs. The Quartus II development software also includes
new system-level design features such as PowerGauge(TM) analysis
software, the industry's first integrated power analysis software, and
enhancements to system-level verification.
Pricing and Availability
The special version of Synplicity software that supports Altera
encrypted MegaCore functions will be available in Q3 2001. Evaluation
copies of Synplicity products that are bundled with Quartus II
software will be available in Q3 2001. Both will be available directly
from Altera to all active subscribers at no additional charge.
About Synplify Pro and Amplify Software
The Synplify Pro and Amplify Physical Optimizer(TM) products
leverage Synplicity's Behavior Extracting Synthesis Technology®
(B.E.S.T. (TM)) algorithms and are fast, easy-to-use products that
provide the highest quality of results. The products run on Windows
95/98, Windows NT and Unix workstations. The Synplify Pro product
offers high-quality synthesis and is optimized to increase performance
and productivity for designers of complex programmable devices. The
Amplify Physical Optimizer is the industry's only physical synthesis
tool for PLDs. It improves circuit performance and timing closure, and
accelerates productivity by performing simultaneous layout and
optimization.
Forward-Looking Statements/Safe Harbor
This press release contains ``forward-looking statements'' that are
made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are
generally preceded by words that imply a future state such as
``expected'' or that imply that a particular future event or events will
occur such as ``will.'' Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking
statements in this release involve risks and uncertainty, including
without limitation the risk that future performance is dependent on
product development schedules, the design performance of software and
other tools, as well as Synplicity and Altera's development
technology. Please refer to Synplicity's and Altera's Securities and
Exchange Commission filings, copies of which are available from
Synplicity and Altera without charge.
About Altera
Altera Corporation, The Programmable Solutions Company®, was
founded in 1983 and is a leading supplier of programmable logic
devices (PLDs). Altera's CMOS-based PLDs are user-programmable
semiconductor chips that enhance flexibility and reduce time-to-market
for companies in the communications, computer peripheral, and
industrial markets. By using high performance devices, software
development tools, and sophisticated intellectual property cores,
system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) solutions can be created with
Excalibur embedded processor solutions, memory, and other complex
logic together on a single PLD. Altera common stock is traded on The
Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol ALTR. More information on Altera
is available on the Internet at http://www.altera.com.
About Synplicity
Synplicity, Inc. (Nasdaq: SYNP) is a leading provider of software
products that enable the rapid and effective design and verification
of semiconductors used in next-generation networking and
communications hardware and other electronic devices. The company
leverages its innovative logic synthesis, physical synthesis and
verification software solutions to improve performance and shorten
development time for complex programmable logic devices, application
specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and system-on-chip (SoC)
integrated circuits. Synplicity's fast, easy-to-use products offer
extremely high quality of results, support industry-standard design
languages (VHDL and Verilog) and run on popular platforms (Windows
98/2000, Windows ME, Windows NT and UNIX). As of the end of March
2001, Synplicity employed over 230 people in its 16 facilities
worldwide. Synplicity is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif.
Note to Editors: Synplicity and Behavior Extracting Synthesis
Technology are registered trademarks of Synplicity, Inc. Amplify,
Physical Optimizer, B.E.S.T. and Synplify Pro are trademarks of
Synplicity, Inc. Altera, The Programmable Solutions Company, MegaCore,
Quartus, MegaWizard, Excalibur, APEX, Mercury, PowerGauge, and
specific device designations are trademarks and/or service marks of
Altera Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All other brands
or products are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their
owners.
Contact:
Tsantes/Porter Novelli for Synplicity
Steve Gabriel, 408/369-1500 x27
steve@tsantes.com
or
Altera Corporation
Ami Dorrell, 408/544-6879
adorrell@altera.com
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