Altera, NewLogic Give Boost to Bluetooth Product Development.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 2, 2001

Altera Corporation (Nasdaq:ALTR), a leading supplier of programmable logic devices (PLDs), and NewLogic Technologies AG, today announced the immediate availability of the first licensable Bluetooth intellectual property (IP) core for PLDs. This provides developers the ability to implement a single chip Bluetooth(TM) system using Altera's system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) solutions to speed time to market of applications using the wireless standard.

NewLogic's BOOST Lite(TM) core is specially optimized for Altera's APEX(TM) device family and Excalibur(TM) embedded processor solutions featuring a full implementation of the latest Bluetooth specification (v1.1). A Bluetooth software stack that supports the HCI interface is included with the core.

With today's announcement, Austrian-based NewLogic is the latest semiconductor intellectual property developer to join the growing ranks of the Altera Megafunction Partners Program (AMPP(SM)), a program created to offer programmable logic users access to best-in-class IP cores.

"We are pleased that NewLogic Technologies has joined our AMPP partnership program and are equally excited that the company's advanced Bluetooth BOOST Lite core is now available to our customers," said Craig Lytle, Altera vice president of the intellectual property business unit. "The BOOST Lite core is a fully featured Bluetooth Baseband Processor incorporating a flexible processor interface that will be easily integrated with any of Altera's Excalibur embedded processor solutions."

"NewLogic is excited to announce its membership in Altera's AMPP program," said Phil Woodhead, NewLogic Technologies' Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "NewLogic's BOOST Lite Bluetooth core is targeted specifically at the PLD community, allowing Altera customers easy access to the increasingly popular Bluetooth wireless technology."

NewLogic's BOOST Lite Bluetooth Core

NewLogic's BOOST Lite core is compliant to Bluetooth specification v1.1 and is designed in VHDL. The core offers a low frequency mode that is selectable between 12,13 and 16 MHz operation. In addition, it supports Bluetooth low power modes (sniff, hold, and park) and optional and mandatory paging modes. All packet types (control, voice, mixed voice-data, single-slot, multi-slot) are supported. An interface to an external SiliconWave Bluetooth radio module is supplied with the core. An optional CVSD (voice) transcoder with PCM interface is available on request. The BOOST Lite megafunction has been implemented in hardware and consumes approximately 7500 Logic Cells and 32 ESBs in within Altera's APEX PLD architecture.

Availability and Pricing

The NewLogic BOOST Lite core is available immediately through NewLogic Technologies. The purchase of the core includes a CD consisting of all design files, software and documentation needed to implement a reference Bluetooth baseband processor application with an ARM(R) microcontroller and SiliconWave radio module (interfaces to other radios are available on request). The BOOST Lite core encrypted netlist version is available for $25,000. A full source code version with additional deliverables is also available on request, as is a fully embedded protocol stack (to API level).

About AMPP

The Altera Megafunction Partners Program, established in August 1995, was created to bring the advantages of design reuse to users of Altera PLDs. AMPP is an alliance between Altera and developers of IP cores that encourages megafunction development. Altera provides technical information and training to the AMPP partners, who create and support IP cores targeted for Altera programmable logic devices. Currently, there are over 30 AMPP partners who offer more than 100 megafunctions. Customers may request a free evaluation of any of these cores through Altera's megafunction listings at http://www.altera.com/ipmegastore.

About NewLogic Technologies

NewLogic Technologies, headquartered in Lustenau, Austria, is a leading provider of Bluetooth intellectual property (IP) and Bluetooth IC design services. Their BOOST IP products are Bluetooth BQB qualified and support a number of processor and radio interfaces. More information on NewLogic can be obtained on the Internet at http://www.newlogic.com.

About Altera

Altera Corporation, The Programmable Solutions Company(TM), was founded in 1983 and is a leading supplier of programmable logic devices and associated logic development software tools. Programmable logic devices are semiconductor chips that can be programmed on-site, using software tools that run on personal computers or engineering workstations. User benefits include ease of use, lower risk, and fast time-to-market. Altera's CMOS-based programmable logic devices address high-speed, high-density and low-power applications in the telecommunications, data communications, computer peripheral, and industrial markets. Altera common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol ALTR. More information on Altera can be obtained on the Internet at http://www.altera.com.

Altera, The Programmable Solutions Company, APEX, Excalibur, AMPP, and specific device designations are trademarks and/or service marks of Altera Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

ARM is a registered trademark of ARM Limited. AMBA is a trademark of ARM Limited.

BOOST is a trademark of NewLogic Technologies AG.

Bluetooth is a trademark owned by Telefonaktiebolaget L.M.Ericsson, Sweden and licensed to NewLogic.