Tality is Anchor Member in Launch of Actel's VariCore(TM) Design Alliance

Actel Unveils Program to Accelerate Development of Complex SoC Designs Leveraging Reprogrammable Logic Cores

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- As an integral part of its VariCore(TM) strategy, Actel Corporation (Nasdaq: ACTL - news) today unveiled its VariCore Design Alliance. This program will train, certify and support independent, worldwide application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) design services companies in the proficient use of Actel's VariCore embedded programmable gate array (EPGA(TM)) intellectual property (IP) cores. Tality Corporation, the world's largest independent system-on-a-chip (SoC) design services and IP provider, has signed on as the program's anchor member. As a member, Tality will enable its customers who are exploring reconfigurable logic solutions for system-level applications to smoothly deploy into their SoC designs Actel's VariCore EPGAs, which are complete SRAM-based embedded "soft hardware" reprogrammable cores.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001019/ACTLLOGO )

The program's goal is to provide SoC designers with the background and expertise necessary to integrate embedded FPGAs into complex system-level designs. Actel plans to announce a number of additional program members over the coming weeks.

"Tality is often at the leading edge of SoC development and sees a growing need for reconfigurable logic in next-generation system-level silicon designs," stated Jim Douglas, vice president of marketing at Tality. "We are excited to be Actel's anchor member in a program that affords us new skill levels and the ability to add much greater flexibility to our customers' designs."

"By establishing the VariCore Design Alliance, Actel is addressing the increasingly complex engineering development needs of customers as they adopt an embedded FPGA approach for their system-level designs," said John East, president and chief executive officer at Actel. "Tality's extensive SoC design expertise makes them an ideal partner to work with their clients seeking to take advantage of our VariCore EPGA solutions."

The VariCore Design Alliance

As part of the VariCore Design Alliance program, Actel provides member companies with comprehensive training in the use of its VariCore IP solutions, including EPGA core design and VariCore's integrated ASIC flow and methodology. Course testing and program certification will also be offered. Certified partner companies will gain access to VariCore design and emulation tools, documentation and EPGA design technical and marketing support.

For more information on VariCore EPGAs and the Design Alliance, send an email to varicore@actel.com or visit the Design Alliance section on the VariCore Web site, http://www.actel.com/varicore/alliances .

About Actel

Actel Corporation is a supplier of innovative programmable logic solutions, including field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) based on antifuse and flash technologies and embedded-programmable gate arrays (EPGAs) based on SRAM technology, as well as high-performance intellectual property (IP) cores, software development tools and design services. Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, Actel employs approximately 500 people worldwide. The Company is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol ACTL and is located at 955 East Arques Avenue, Sunnyvale, California, 94086-4533. Telephone: 888-99-ACTEL (992-2835). Actel Internet: http://www.actel.com . VariCore Internet: http://varicore.actel.com . Additional information about VariCore is available on Actel's VariCore Web site: http://varicore.actel.com .

About Tality

Tality Corporation, a subsidiary of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CDN - news), is the world's largest electronic product development outsourcing provider. Leading and emerging technology companies around the globe leverage Tality's engineering services and intellectual property for the design of complex electronic systems and integrated circuits. Tality is headquartered in San Jose, California. For more information about Tality, please visit us at www.tality.com.

Editor's Note 1: VariCore and EPGA are trademarks of Actel Corporation. The Actel name and logo are registered trademarks of Actel Corporation. All other trademarks and servicemarks are the property of their respective owners.

Editor's Note 2: A number of VariCore-related photos and graphics are available to the editorial community online at: http://www.actel.com/varicore/editorsdesk/ .