picoTurbo , NewLogic and Chip Express Join Forces to Provide the First Turnkey Bluetooth ASIC Solution on the Market

picoTurbo, NewLogic and Chip Express Join Forces to Provide the First Turnkey Bluetooth ASIC Solution on the Market

New picoBOOST IP Core Integrates picoTurbo's pT-100 Microprocessor and NewLogic's BOOST IP for Fast-to-Market Bluetooth Products in Chip Express Process Technology

DesignCon, Santa Clara CA, January 30, 2001 - picoTurbo, NewLogic and Chip Express today announced a partnership to provide the picoBOOST[tm] Bluetooth[tm] IP core as a turnkey building block in the Chip Express time-to-volume ASIC technology. The picoBOOST core integrates the NewLogic BOOST[tm] IP core with the picoTurbo pT-100[tm] microprocessor IP core. The resulting Bluetooth IP core creates a total Bluetooth baseband processor solution including the hardware and software required for Bluetooth wireless products.

The picoBOOST integrated solution allows semiconductor manufacturers and system OEMs to add Bluetooth functionality to an SOC very quickly and easily as the hardware and software are pre-configured and pre-tested. Implementation via the Chip Express modular array family provides the system OEM user with the added flexibility to incorporate up to 100K additional gates for design customization. As a result, flexibility is increased, design risks are reduced, and time-to-market is significantly decreased.

Supported by NewLogic's BOOST software, the picoBOOST core is a fully-featured Bluetooth protocol stack, which can be used in both embedded and host applications. Both the picoBOOST and the picoTurbo IP cores were designed for use with applications that require ARM® (version 4T) instructions, allowing customers to leverage systems and software throughout the industry.

Bruno Kajiyama, Vice President of Marketing for picoTurbo, stated, "We are delighted to work with NewLogic and Chip Express on the development of this exciting integrated IP core solution for Bluetooth wireless products. We welcome NewLogic as a premier picoTurbo DesignerNet[tm] IP partner, and Chip Express as a premier DesignerNet ASIC partner. The picoBOOST solution combines the technology strengths of all three companies and is positioned to be successful in the fast-growing wireless marketplace."

"The unique combination of NewLogic's fully qualified Bluetooth baseband processor core with picoTurbo's pT-100 microprocessor core offers a proven means of integrating Bluetooth functionality into an SOC or ASIC design more cost effectively than ever before," said Hans-Peter Metzler, President and CEO of NewLogic. "We are very happy to join our efforts with picoTurbo, a premier developer of proven IP microprocessor cores, and Chip Express, a leading provider of excellent turnkey ASIC solutions."

"Chip Express unique technology allows us to quickly process prototypes and production devices that incorporate the picoBOOST core. This SOC block will allow wireless handheld applications to add Bluetooth functionality in a very fast and efficient way," stated Stephen McMinn, President and CEO of Chip Express. "We are excited to partner with picoTurbo and NewLogic to provide this valuable building block as the first offering in Chip Express' new Microsystem-on-Chip[tm] product line."

The picoBOOST core is available now for licensing as soft IP from both picoTurbo and NewLogic. The first hard implementation will be produced in advanced Chip Express process technology and is expected to be available from Chip Express in Q1 2001. The hard macro will become a turnkey building block for customers that need fast prototyping and a smooth migration to high-volume production.

About picoTurbo

picoTurbo is a premier provider of 16/32-bit RISC microprocessor cores, designed for use with applications that require ARM^® (version 4T) instructions. picoTurbo's flexible business model delivers high-performance, cost-effective, low-power microprocessor IP to SOC designers. picoTurbo is headquartered in Silicon Valley, CA, USA with an additional design center in Taiwan and distributors in the UK, Israel and Taiwan. For more information on picoTurbo, please visit the web site at <www.picoturbo.com> or call company headquarters at 408-586-8801, fax 408-586-8802 or send an email to <info@picoturbo.com>.

About NewLogic

NewLogic Technologies, headquartered in Lustenau, Austria, is a leading provider of Bluetooth intellectual property (IP) and Bluetooth IC design services. Their BOOST IP products are Bluetooth BQB qualified and support a number of processor and radio interfaces. For more information about NewLogic, please visit their web site at <www.newlogic.com>, call +43-5577-62000-0, fax +43-5577-62000-88 or send an email to <info@newlogic.com>.

About Chip Express

Chip Express Corporation is the electronic industry's "ASIC Time-to-Market Solution^®" providing fast-turn ASIC prototypes and production devices. Utilizing proprietary technology, the company delivers prototypes in three days and initial production quantities in as little as three weeks. Chip Express has supplied millions of ASIC devices for thousands of customer designs. The company is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with a wholly owned R&D subsidiary, Chip Express Israel, Ltd., located in Haifa, Israel. For more information about Chip Express, please visit the company's website <www.chipexpress.com>, call 408-988-2445, fax 408-988-2449, or email <moreinfo@chipx.com>

The Bluetooth Standard

Bluetooth is the new wireless standard which is rapidly being adopted throughout the world for cell phones, wireless computing and networking, handheld Internet access devices and home electronic equipment management. Its promise of a small controller footprint, low-cost and interoperability is fueling the wireless industry expansion. For more information, see <www.bluetooth.com>

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picoTurbo, the picoTurbo logo, pT-100, pT-110, pT-120, picoBOOST, DesignerNet and Turn-key IP are trademarks of picoTurbo, Inc.
ARM is a registered trademark of ARM Limited.
Bluetooth is a trademark of L. M. Ericsson, Sweden.
NewLogic and BOOST are trademarks of NewLogic Technologies, AG.
Chip Express, "The ASIC Time-to-Market Solution" and "Microsystem-on-Chip" are trademarks of Chip Express, Corp.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners