Synopsys Adds AMBA Compliance Tool Extending DesignWare AMBA Solution; Compliance Certification Tool Enables Participation in the ARM AMBA Compliance Program

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 5, 2003--Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS), the world leader in integrated circuit (IC) design software, today announced the DesignWare(R) AMBA(TM) Compliance Tool (ACT). Building on Synopsys' DesignWare AMBA On-Chip Bus (OCB) intellectual property (IP) offering, DesignWare ACT enables designers to certify that their IP and designs are compliant with the AMBA 2.0 interconnection standard. Designers certifying their IP with DesignWare ACT may participate in the ARM(R) AMBA Compliance Program and use the "AMBA Compliant" trademark to differentiate and promote their IP for use in AMBA technology-based system-on-chip (SoC) designs.

The AMBA methodology for SoC interconnect facilitates IP reuse during the implementation and verification of AMBA technology-based designs. Designers developing blocks for AMBA technology-based SoCs can use DesignWare ACT to verify that the interfaces of their blocks are compliant with the AMBA specification and generate an official compliance certificate. This certificate assures IP integrators that their IP will seamlessly integrate into their AMBA technology-based systems. For both IP integrators and designers, DesignWare ACT reduces the development and integration risk, thereby improving time to market.

"Synopsys' DesignWare ACT will provide significant support for the AMBA Compliance Program from an industry leading IP and EDA supplier," said Jonathan Morris, Systems Program Manager, ARM. "Synopsys, as a provider of AMBA verification and synthesizable IP, understands the importance of reducing the risk for their customers by providing certified AMBA compliant IP."

DesignWare ACT complements the DesignWare AMBA On-Chip Bus solution, which enables designers to create AMBA technology-based designs rapidly by providing a powerful set of configurable, pre-verified, synthesizable and verification IP. Although DesignWare AMBA OCB and DesignWare ACT can be used independently, by using them together, designers get synthesizable IP, verification IP and compliance checking, which all work together to provide a powerful solution for creating and verifying AMBA technology-based SoC designs.

Written in the OpenVera(TM) verification language, DesignWare ACT takes full advantage of the built-in Synopsys Smart Verification technology and has been implemented to be fully functional in any verification environment. Designers can seamlessly plug DesignWare ACT into their existing verification environment and quickly and easily check their IP and designs for AMBA compliance. When the verification environment is built with the DesignWare AMBA verification IP (VIP), designers can reduce their overall verification effort even further by leveraging the built-in advanced verification technology across the VIP and DesignWare ACT.

"The AMBA Compliance Program and DesignWare ACT are important to the AMBA community because they establish a quality metric to which AMBA IP will be measured," said Joachim Kunkel, vice president marketing, Synopsys IP and Design Services Group. "Synopsys recognizes the importance of providing a comprehensive high-quality solution consisting of synthesizable IP, verification IP, and compliance checking as reflected in our DesignWare AMBA OCB solution, currently in use by over 150 companies."

Pricing and Availability

DesignWare ACT is priced at $10,000 for a one-year technology subscription license (TSL) and is scheduled to be available during the first quarter of calendar 2003. DesignWare ACT requires a DesignWare Library license. DesignWare AMBA OCB inclusive of VIP and IIP is available today as part of the DesignWare Library and is priced at $28,000 for a one year TSL.

For more information about the DesignWare AMBA On-Chip Bus solution, or the extensive synthesizable and verification IP offerings from the DesignWare family of products, please visit http://www.synopsys.com/designware.

About Synopsys

Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS) is the world leader in electronic design automation (EDA) software for integrated circuit (IC) design. The company delivers technology-leading IC design and verification platforms to the global electronics market, enabling the development of complex systems-on-chips (SoCs). Synopsys also provides intellectual property and design services to simplify the design process and accelerate time-to-market for its customers. Synopsys is headquartered in Mountain View, California and is located in more than 60 offices throughout North America, Europe, Japan and Asia. Visit Synopsys online at http://www.synopsys.com/.

Note to Editors: Synopsys and DesignWare are registered trademarks of Synopsys, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned in this release are the intellectual property of their respective owners.

ARM is a registered trademark of ARM Limited. AMBA is a trademark of ARM Limited. "ARM" is used to represent ARM Holdings plc (LSE:ARM and Nasdaq:ARMHY); its operating company ARM Limited; and the regional subsidiaries ARM INC.; ARM KK; ARM Korea Ltd.; ARM Taiwan; ARM France SAS; and ARM China.

CONTACT: Synopsys, Inc., Mountain View
             Troy Wood, 650/584-5717
             twood@synopsys.com
                     or
             Edelman 
             Andrea Zils, 650/429-2731
             andrea.zils@edelman.com