Actel Unlocks "Shrink-Wrapped" Software Licensing For PC-Based FPGA Design; New Designer Series 3.1 Tosses Security Blocks, Ends User Frustrations.

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 11, 1996--Actel Corporation (NASDAQ:ACTL) today introduced an innovative new business model for PC-based field programmable gate array (FPGA) design, removing the physical "security key" or blocking mechanism to unlock its software development tools. The keyless software option is hailed as an industry first.

Actel's "keyless" paradigm heads a list of features incorporated in its new Designer Series 3.1 software release, which also includes improvements such as full synthesis support for behavioral VHDL, Windows 95 support, and RAM, FIFO, and multiplier block design using Actel's new 3200DX FPGA devices.

"Our customers have expressed frustration with security blocks plugged to the back of their PCs" said Michael Saniei, product line manager for Actel's Designer Series. "Designers typically use three to five different FPGA or EDA tool sets in their design methodologies, each requiring its own security block. As a result, designers face a number of issues such as PC compatibility, broken keys, or unexpected license expirations. Our new keyless design software system takes the FPGA design software ease-of-use to the next level by removing these barriers."

Actel's new keyless software is available on a per-use basis for PC-based systems only. Individual Designer Series 3.1 purchasers will be issued licenses similar to those included with shrink-wrapped commercial PC software products. The license allows the user to make multiple copies of the software, as long as each copy is used by the same designer. This enables designers to better manage time-to-market pressures by allowing them to work on the road or at home with a single license. Actel anticipates that its new licensing model will be emulated by other major FPGA and EDA industry vendors, perhaps eventually bringing the entire PC-based EDA world into the "shrink-wrapped software" model.

Designer Series 3.1 Features

Beside its keyless feature, Designer Series 3.1 also offers improved VHDL synthesis for simpler, faster and more accurate design of Actel's Integrator Series of high-capacity FPGAs, in particular Actel's newly available A32200DX, a 20,000 usable gate device.

"As designers move up to higher gate counts, language-based design becomes a necessity," said Mr. Saniei. "VHDL synthesis in Designer Series 3.1 allows designers to specify intent at a very high level, then quickly verify its operation faster and more efficiently than they could through other design methodologies."

Improvements have also been made to ACTmap, the powerful VHDL synthesis and optimization solution shipped with all versions of Actel's Designer Series tool set, and ACTgen, Designer Series' automatic VHDL macro builder. ACTmap now handles the industry-standard array of VHDL constructs. By combining the latest ACTmap VHDL behavioral language features with ACTgen's reusable functional models, designers can quickly and easily design and verify complex, high-capacity designs for applications such as networking and telecommunications.

ACTgen enhancements include multipliers for improved generation of DSP functions as well as enhanced synthesis of RAM and FIFO blocks available with newer members of Actel's Integrator Series FPGAs, such as the A32200DX. This enables designers to take full advantage of on-chip memory for faster performance and lower overall system cost.

Pricing and Availability

Actel's Designer Series 3.1 development tools are currently in beta release on both PC and workstation platforms. PC operating systems support includes Windows 95, Windows NT, and Windows 3.11. Production availability is targeted for June with prices starting at $995.

About Actel

Actel Corporation is dedicated to providing logic designers the capability and confidence to move up to higher complexity designs. Actel is the world's leading manufacturer of anti-fuse-based field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and associated software development tools. Actel's cost-effective, anti-fuse architecture offers designers advantages in total system performance, maximum gate utilization and high level design efficiencies, all resulting in lower development costs and faster time to market. FPGAs are used in voice and data communications, computing, medical, industrial controls and military and aerospace applications worldwide. Actel is traded on the NASDAQ market using the symbol ACTL and is located at 955 East Arques Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94086. Telephone: [phone]. Internet: http://www.actel.com.

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Note to Editors:

The Actel logo, 3200DX, ACTmap, ACTgen and Integrator are trademarks of the Actel Corporation.

CONTACT: Michael Saniei (reader contact)

Chuck Byers (editorial contact)

Actel Corporation

408/739-1010

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Erin Curtis or Kellie DiNaro

Walt & Company Communications

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