Altera Licenses MIPS Technologies Core to Use in APEX Programmable Logic Devices.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 12, 2000

Dramatically Cuts Time-to-Market for High-Performance

System-On-Programmable-Chip (SOPC) Designs

MIPS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:MIPS), a leading provider of embedded processor IP (intellectual property), and Altera Corp. (Nasdaq:ALTR), a leading programmable logic device (PLD) supplier, today announced that Altera will integrate a "hard" MIPS32 4K(TM) processor core with its APEX(TM) PLD architecture as part of Altera's Excalibur embedded processor solutions. This will allow system designers to develop high performance MIPS-based(TM) system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) designs in their own labs, dramatically reducing development time and cost.

"I am delighted that Altera will provide its huge customer base with access to high performance MIPS-based processors integrated with high density programmable logic," said John Bourgoin, chairman and CEO of MIPS Technologies, Inc. "Integrating a MIPS-based 32-bit processor with an APEX PLD gives the system developer the opportunity to hit the market quickly while maintaining flexibility in the design. This means that fast moving markets such as networking and communications can be entered quickly with a high performance product while maintaining the ability to make rapid changes."

The new solution will be an important part of Altera's Excalibur embedded processor solutions, announced today. The MIPS32 4K processor core combined with Altera's APEX architecture will provide a high-performance and flexible solution for a wide-range of applications in the digital entertainment, communications and networking and office automation markets.

"Many of our 14,000 customers use MIPS-based processors in their systems along with our devices and would benefit from the integration of these functions. We can now deliver this solution with the high system performance these customers require," said Erik Cleage, senior vice president of marketing at Altera. "Additionally, the APEX portion of these Excalibur products can be used for customer logic allowing the customer to add the necessary value to make the end product successful."

"MIPS Technologies has always been the choice of performance hungry system OEMs," said Brian Knowles, vice president of marketing at MIPS Technologies. "Now it is easier than ever to use MIPS-based solutions. The MIPS-based Excalibur products from Altera give the system OEM the exciting new option to develop high performance SOPC designs quickly and easily."

"This new way to design with MIPS-based processor IP accelerates OEMs' time to market," said Linley Gwennap, principal analyst at The Linley Group. "System OEMs cannot easily anticipate market changes. Standard core-based SOC ASIC designs require months of effort before a high-performance hardware-based system can be demonstrated. Using the Altera Excalibur product and the SOPC approach, new systems can be developed in days."

The MIPS32 4K family of processor cores is well supported by a large body of development tool vendors. Major development tools vendors supporting the MIPS processor architecture include Algorithmics, Ltd., Green Hills Software, Mentor Graphics, Red Hat, Inc. and Wind River Systems, Inc. MIPS Technologies, Inc. and third-party tool vendors provide a wide range of compilers, IDEs, evaluation boards, real-time operating systems, including Windows(R) CE, and multiple hardware emulators and probes.

About MIPS Technologies, Inc.

MIPS Technologies, Inc. is one of the world's primary architects of embedded 32- and 64-bit RISC processors. The company drives the broadest architectural alliance that is delivering 32- and 64-bit embedded RISC solutions. The company licenses its intellectual property to semiconductor companies, ASIC developers, and system OEMs. MIPS Technologies, Inc. and its licensees offer the widest range of robust, scalable processors in standard, custom, semi-custom and application-specific products.

Licensees currently include: Alchemy Semiconductor, Inc.; Altera Corp.; ATI Technologies, Inc.; Broadcom Corp.; Centillium Communications, Inc.; Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing; CommQuest (IBM); ESS Technology, Inc.; Excess Bandwidth; General Instrument Corp.; Integrated Device Technology, Inc. (IDT); Lara Networks, Inc.; LSI Logic Corp.; Macronix; Metalink Ltd.; NEC Corp.; NKK Corp.; Philips Semiconductors; Quantum Effect Devices, Inc. (QED); QuickLogic Corp.; Sandcraft, Inc.; SiByte, Inc.; Sony Corp.; Synova; Texas Instruments Inc.; Toshiba Corp.; and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Numerous companies utilize MIPS-based(TM) intellectual property. MIPS Technologies, Inc. is based in Mountain View, and can be reached at 650/567-5000 or http://www.mips.com.

Note to Editors: MIPS is a registered trademark and MIPS-based, MIPS32 and 4K are trademarks of MIPS Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies. All press materials are available on the World Wide Web via: http://www.mips.com.