Actel's Axcelerator FPGAs Tapped as Core Controller for BP Microsystems' Enhanced Seventh-Generation Programmers

Single-Chip, Antifuse-Based Devices Deliver Greater Speed, Lower Power and Improved Security

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.-- Jan. 24, 2006 -- Actel Corporation (Nasdaq: ACTL) today announced that BP Microsystems, a leader in the device programming business, has selected its single-chip, antifuse-based Axcelerator field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to deliver greater speed, lower power and improved security across its full range of next-generation programming solutions. Tapping Actel's antifuse FPGA technology to achieve overall greater performance for its industry-leading products, BP Microsystems deployed the antifuse-based AX1000 device as the core controller on the motherboard of all enhanced seventh-generation engineering, multi-site and automated programmers.

Further strengthening this partnership, all seventh-generation programmers from BP Microsystems will support Actel's low-cost, flash-based ProASIC3/E family of devices. The top-end robotic arm production programmers from BP Microsystems can program the ProASIC3/E devices in under 30 seconds, allowing for the automatic programming of thousands of devices per day with little operator intervention. Additionally, new programming software, jointly developed by both companies, enables individual device serialization of the flash ROM in each ProASIC3/E FPGA.

"BP Microsystems is committed to being the leader in the universal device programmer market," said Tim Nolte, director of global business development at BP Microsystems. "The speed, security and overall performance of the Actel devices enabled us to add new features to our systems, such as USB 2.0 and support for devices with densities up to four Gigabits."

"We have been very pleased with the overall performance of our seventh- generation device programmer from BP Microsystems," said Dave Garrett, technical specialist for Patton Electronics in Gaithersburg, Md. "The combination of programming software and programmer make it a very easy-to-use and intuitive system. In addition, we have seen an incredible increase in throughput. For example, it used to take several minutes per chip on a specific flash programming project. Using our new seventh-generation device programmer from BP Microsystems on that same project, we can program four parts at once in less than two minutes."

"Actel and BP Microsystems have a six-year history of collaboration on programming technology," said Martin Mason, director of silicon product marketing at Actel. "We are excited to have expanded this collaboration to supply them with a core controller solution that meets their needs for improved overall system performance."

About the Axcelerator Device Family

Built upon the company's AX architecture, the antifuse-based Axcelerator family delivers better than 500 MHz internal operation and up to 100 percent resource utilization. Additionally, the company's level 0 live at power-up, single-chip Axcelerator FPGAs avoid in-rush current spikes, simplify system-power supply design and generally offer lower standby and dynamic power consumption than competing solutions. The Actel devices also offer levels of design security beyond SRAM-based offerings and conventional ASIC solutions, enabling designers to safeguard against common security problems, including reverse engineering and denial of service.

About BP Microsystems' Programming Solutions

Established in 1985, BP Microsystems is a global supplier of electronic device programmers for all applications. The company is the leading supplier of vision-based automated programming systems and sets the standard in device support, performance, ease-of-use, and cost-of-ownership. The company offers a wide variety of device programmers including Universal Programmers, Concurrent Programming Systems(R) and Fine-Pitch Automated Programming Systems.

BP Microsystems' financial statements are audited by Price Waterhouse Coopers LLP. BP Microsystems is located at 1000 North Post Oak Road, Houston, Texas USA 77055-7237. Telephone: 713-688-4600. BP Microsystems can be found on the Internet at www.bpmicro.com.

About Actel

Actel Corporation is the leader in single-chip FPGA solutions. The company is traded on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol ACTL and is headquartered at 2061 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, Calif., 94043-4655. For more information about Actel, visit www.actel.com. Telephone: 888-99-ACTEL (992-2835).