AWR and Helic Partner to Offer VeloceRF Technology in Analog Office Software; Integration of Inductance Extraction Capability Enables Rapid, Full-chip RF Extraction and Dramatically Improves Modeling Speed and Scalability.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. & ATHENS, Greece -- Applied Wave Research, Inc. (AWR(R)) and Helic S.A. (Helic(R)) today announced a technology licensing agreement that enables the integration of Helic's VeloceRF(TM) whole-chip radio frequency (RF) extraction, modeling, and verification technology into AWR's Analog Office(R) RF integrated circuit (IC) design suite. The companies also announced a marketing agreement enabling AWR to market the solution through its worldwide distribution channels.

The integrated product provides analog and RFIC designers with a new level of interactivity and ease-of-use through AWR's unified and open RF design platform, while enabling full access to all the features and capabilities of Helic's industry-leading extraction technology. The combined solution will provide the highest level of accuracy and performance for large-scale RFICs, thus maximizing designers' productivity and shortening the product development cycle time for wireless communications products.

"We are pleased to work with AWR on this integrated solution," said Dr. Yorgos Koutsoyannopoulos, CEO of Helic. "With this new partnership we expand our customer base and address a new market segment. VeloceRF technology offers unprecedented speed and scalability in the extraction of very complex passive devices on silicon and advanced packaging substrates. When utilized within the AWR single platform, the design of inductor-heavy chips and systems-in-package becomes a systematic design process instead of an exotic art."

"The integration of Helic's extraction and modeling tool technology into the Analog Office product through AWR's unified design environment provides designers with full access to all the superior features and capabilities of the VeloceRF technology," said Joe Pekarek, CTO of AWR. "Our collaboration with Helic is another step in AWR's long-term commitment to provide easy integration with best-in-class tools through the AWR open platform, delivering unmatched performance, higher quality designs, and significantly increased productivity."

S5 Wireless, a customer of AWR, develops wireless solutions that provide extremely long range, low cost, and low power wireless technology for telemetry and tracking applications. "S5 Wireless has been evaluating AWR's Analog Office and Helic's VeloceRF products for some time," said Dan Haab, senior RFIC engineer at S5 Wireless. "We are looking forward to the integration of the Helic technology within the AWR design environment and expect that the combined solution will enable us to accelerate our design verification task, and help deliver our product to market faster."

About the AWR/Helic Solution

VeloceRF extracts distributed models for RF interconnects, including magnetic coupling coefficients among interconnect lines and spiral inductive components. By introducing complex electromagnetic (EM) effects early in the design cycle, it accelerates the development process for complex RF chips and ensures first-pass results. The AWR unified RF data model coupled with its second generation Intelligent Net(TM) (iNet2) interconnect technology provides a comprehensive set of interconnect models spanning from ideal short circuit, to lumped element, to transmission line model, to full 3D EM model. The incorporation of Helic's VeloceRF full-chip extraction technology extends the range of interconnect modeling to include extraction of distributed resistance, capacitance, inductance and mutual inductance (RCLK) models, and coupling spiral inductors directly from physical layout. This enables full flexibility in accuracy and performance trade-offs during RF analysis.

Pricing and Availability

The combined AWR/Helic solution will be available directly from AWR through its direct sales offices and worldwide distribution channels. The integrated VeloceRF is available as an option to all AWR customers using Analog Office software, starting at US $20,000 per year. An early evaluation version will be available Q3 2006 and a production release of the combined solution is scheduled for Q1 2007. The solution will be demonstrated at the 2006 Design Automation Conference (DAC) in San Francisco, July 24-27, at AWR's booth #2106. Interested customers can visit http://www.appwave.com/register/dac.aspx to schedule a private demo of the product.

About Helic S.A.

Helic specializes in the development of enabling EDA technologies for RFIC and systems-in-package (SiP) design. Helic's VeloceRF(TM) is the leading EDA tool for integrated inductor synthesis, modeling, and verification and has been adopted by several renowned semiconductor companies worldwide. With a global reach and sales offices in Europe, the U.S., and Japan, Helic offers its customers EDA tools, intellectual property (IP), and services that enable delivery of first-pass silicon, while greatly reducing the development cycle for complex wireless transceiver products. Helic is headquartered at 5 Chiou str., Argyroupolis, 16452, Athens, Greece. For additional information please visit Helic at www.helic.com or call [phone].

About Applied Wave Research, Inc.

Applied Wave Research is a leading supplier of high-frequency 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. In September 2005, AWR acquired APLAC Solutions, an emerging leader in simulation and analysis software for analog and RF design. Today over 700 companies deploy AWR software 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 additional information please visit AWR at www.appwave.com or call 310-726-3000.

AWR, the AWR logo, and Analog Office are registered trademarks and Intelligent Net is a trademark of Applied Wave Research, Inc. Helic and the Helic logo are registered trademarks and VeloceRF is a trademark of Helic S.A. All other registered marks are the property of their respective holders.