AWR Announces VSS 2006 for Design of Next-Generation Communications Products; RFIC and Fixed-Point Design Capabilities Radically Enhanced to Support Increasingly Complex Needs of Fast Growth Wireless Markets.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Applied Wave Research, Inc. (AWR(R)), a leading provider of high-frequency electronic design automation (EDA) tools, today announced Visual System Simulator(TM) 2006 (VSS 2006) software for the design of next-generation circuits and systems. A comprehensive software suite for the design of complete, end-to-end communications systems, VSS 2006 now provides radio-frequency (RF) models in the voltage domain for the RF integrated circuit (IC) design community. The popular RF budget analysis feature has been updated to include measurements that provide even greater insight into defining the right component specifications. Core VSS functions have been enhanced with new measurements, additional models, and improved existing models. In addition, VSS 2006 addresses the needs of the baseband system designer by enabling bit accurate simulations and providing new signal models for the most current communications standards.

"VSS 2006 has been enhanced in many areas as part of AWR's ongoing commitment to provide engineers with the unique ability to design the right system architecture and formulate suitable specifications for each of the underlying components in today's complex communications designs," said George Chrisikos, VSS development manager at AWR. "The VSS development team has targeted key features that will help designers reduce time-to-market by eliminating iterations and rework, and cut system costs by ensuring that components are not over-specified and thus unnecessarily expensive."

"The seamless integration of Microwave Office circuit design and VSS system design software in one platform has really helped our engineers meet the challenges of designing cutting-edge IC products quickly and easily," said Dr. Chuck Campbell, design engineering director at TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc.

Additional new features in VSS 2006 include:

--Elastic buffers for ultra-fast simulations, multi-rate capability

--One-step signal generators for generator test signals with minimum effort

--"Intelligent Receiver" for changes at transmit end, eliminating potential design errors in the receiver

--Auto-compensation for filter phase rotation, which reduces time to set up bit error rate (BER) simulations

--Back/forward propagation for auto data rate adjustment

--A wide range of easily set up system measurements that reduce result analysis time

--Powerful and comprehensive features for dedicated systems engineers, including:

--RF cascade measurements for optimization or yield analysis performance to develop component specifications

--Impedance mismatch to monitor voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) and impact on overall system design

--Fixed point library to perform simulations using the same mathematics as hardware

--Optional TestWave(TM) module for direct link to leading test and measurement equipment

--Tight integration with Microwave Office(R) and Analog Office(TM) design suites, enabling true harmonic balance, electromagnetic (EM), and/or linear co-simulation

VSS application-specific test benches are available for:

--Interim standard 95 (IS95)

--Third-generation (3G) wide band code division multiple access (WCDMA) frequency-division multiple access (FDD)

--Wireless local area network (WLAN) (802.11a/b/g)

--Global system for mobile communications (GSM)/ enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE)

--CDMA2000

--Worldwide interoperability for microwave access WiMAX

Pricing and Availability

The VSS 2006 product supports Windows 2000, XP, and Linux and will be available in the spring of 2006. A beta version is available immediately for customers with support contracts. U.S. list prices for yearly, time-based licenses range from $6,000 - $12,000 depending upon configurations. For more information on product pricing and availability, call 310-726-3000. For product pricing and availability outside the U.S., please contact a local AWR sales representative.

About Applied Wave Research, Inc.

Applied Wave Research is a leading supplier of high-frequency electronic design automation (EDA) products for the design of wireless telecommunications equipment, semiconductors, high-speed computers, networking systems, automotive mobility systems, and a variety of other electronics-based products. AWR is a privately-held company and has global development offices, sales offices, training centers, and distribution channels. AWR recently acquired APLAC, an emerging leader in simulation and analysis software for analog and radio-frequency (RF) design. APLAC's RF design technology has been used in designing over 30 percent of all mobile phone RF integrated circuits (ICs) worldwide. AWR today has over 700 customers worldwide, including virtually every major high-frequency electronic component and system supplier. The company is headquartered at 1960 East Grand Avenue, Suite 430, El Segundo, California 90245. For more information about AWR and its products, please visit www.appwave.com or call 310-726-3000.

AWR, the AWR logo, and Microwave Office are registered trademarks, and Visual System Simulator, Analog Office and TestWave are trademarks of Applied Wave Research, Inc. All other registered marks are the property of their respective holders.