AMCC Reduces Time to Market for System OEMs Through Partnership With Nakra Labs Inc.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 9, 2001

Nakra Labs Provides Specific, Off-the-shelf Software Device

Drivers for AMCC's Industry-leading Framers, Increasing

Reliability and Decreasing Time-to-Market for Customers

Applied Micro Circuits Corp. (AMCC(R)) (Nasdaq:AMCC), a leader in high-bandwidth silicon connectivity solutions for the world's optical networks, today announced a partnership with Nakra Labs Inc., a company that designs easy-to-use, powerful device drivers that enable the user to rapidly design and deploy their networking and communications systems.

The partnership between the two companies will make available software device drivers designed specifically for AMCC's line of industry-leading framer solutions, such as the recently announced Ganges and Yukon components, thereby increasing reliability and decreasing time-to-market for system OEMs. Nakra Labs Inc. is based in North Andover, Mass.

"The off-the-shelf device drivers from Nakra Labs eliminate the need for our customers to invest time and engineering resources in creating their own device drivers," said John LoMedico, vice president of marketing for AMCC -- Digital Products. "In fact, it's not accurate to refer to this software simply as a device driver. It goes beyond the normal operation of a traditional driver by providing higher-layer management like interrupt support, failure monitoring and performance monitoring compliant with appropriate standards. Not only are the software device drivers created specifically for use with our framers, they are also tested in our own labs. The partnership between our two companies further demonstrates our commitment to reducing the time-to-market for our customers."

Nakra Labs' device drivers provide a uniform API across all the devices that are supported, facilitating ease of use as well as easy adaptation of code across different devices. The drivers work seamlessly in controlling multiple devices of the same type as well as multiple types of devices that co-exist within a system. Nakra Labs' next-generation products will allow further integration of software support and services building on the existing management software stack.

"Our strong legacy of communications software development, coupled with our extensive knowledge of AMCC products, enables us to create reliable, timely and robust off-the-shelf device drivers and network management software for both current and future AMCC products," said Jahangir Nakra, president and founder of Nakra Labs. "We look forward to our continued strong partnership with AMCC, and supporting their customers with cost-effective software for their high-speed networking and communications systems."

Device drivers provide a concise set of Application Programming Interface (API) function calls that isolates the user from the specifics of the device and allows the user to focus on the network management tasks. The easily integrated, fully tested, OS- and processor-independent, standards-compliant ANSI C code enables the users to rapidly design and deploy their system. All the code for existing silicon is exhaustively tested using AMCC's evaluation boards. For devices that are under development, the Nakra Labs' Rapid Driver Development Platform allows the drivers to be developed in tandem with the silicon design effort ensuring that the drivers are available when AMCC samples first silicon to customers, thereby allowing faster deployment of the user's system to the market.

Pricing and Availability

Management software and device drivers are currently shipping to customers and are available for AMCC framers and pointer processors that are either in volume production or sampling to customers. Pricing can be obtained by contacting [e-mail]. or calling 978/975-2071, ext. 3005.

About Nakra Labs Inc.

Nakra Labs Inc. is a provider of software device drivers for framers that span SONET/SDH, ATM, POS and DS3 rates. Based in North Andover, Nakra Labs Inc. designs easy-to-use, powerful device drivers that enable the user to rapidly design and deploy their networking/communications systems. Nakra Labs Inc. is the premier supplier of device drivers for AMCC's line of framers. In addition to providing software solutions, the experienced team at Nakra Labs Inc. can also help architect complex high-speed networking/communications systems using AMCC's line of products. For more information, visit our Web site at www.nakralabs.com, or e-mail us at [e-mail].

About AMCC

AMCC designs, develops, manufactures and markets high-performance, high-bandwidth silicon solutions for the world's optical networks. AMCC utilizes a combination of high-frequency analog, mixed-signal and digital design expertise coupled with system-level knowledge and multiple silicon process technologies to offer integrated circuit products that enable the transport of voice and data over fiber optic networks. The company's system solution portfolio includes PMD, PHY, framer/mapper, network processor, traffic management and switch fabric devices that address the high-performance needs of the evolving intelligent optical network. AMCC's corporate headquarters and wafer fabrication facilities are located in San Diego. Sales and engineering offices are located throughout the world.

AMCC Forward-Looking Statements 

The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements, including statements relating to AMCC's products or Nakra Labs' drivers, the relationship with Nakra Labs Inc., and anticipated sales resulting from the relationship, are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the risk that the relationship would not result in expected sales, that the products or drivers would not be successfully or timely developed or achieve market acceptance, as well as the risks associated with general economic conditions and other risks and uncertainties set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2000, the Company's recent 10-Q filing, and in other filings of the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and AMCC does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

AMCC is a registered trademark of Applied Micro Circuits Corp. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.