Cadence Introduces EDA's First User-Focused Internet Communities for PCB Designers; Leading Application Websites, SPECCTRA.com & PSpice.com, Go Live.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

PCB Design Conference West

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 20, 2000

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (NYSE:CDN), the world's leading supplier of electronic design products and services, today announced the launch of two new internet-enabled communities for electrical engineers and printed circuit board (PCB) designers to enhance their productivity with Cadence(R) solutions.

This offering introduces the electronic design automation (EDA) industry's first full-service websites for worldwide PCB users of SPECCTRA(R) interconnect router and PSpice(R), analog/mixed-signal simulation software. This announcement is part of the company's overall strategy for leveraging the internet to improve the productivity of Cadence customers.

SPECCTRA.com will serve the more than 15,000 worldwide PCB layout designers who use SPECCTRA software for auto-interactive interconnect routing. The majority of PCB layout tools available today are sold with SPECCTRA routers or have them as an option.

PSpice.com serves the more than 40,000 registered PSpice users, and the countless universities and colleges around the world using PSpice tools in their regular curriculum offerings. PSpice software is the de-facto standard simulation software, used by most analog/mixed-signal design engineers developing state-of-the-art circuits, for all industry segments.

"We are very committed to our PSpice and SPECCTRA product users and these websites are just the beginning of a long-term effort to enhance their productivity with these solutions," said Jamie Metcalfe, vice president of marketing for the PCB Systems Division of Cadence Design Systems.

"As part of this thrust we have posted, on these sites, customer application notes that reveal the many ways our products are being used. Our intent is to enable users to leverage each other's design expertise."

SPECCTRA.com and PSpice.com Features

The SPECCTRA.com and PSpice.com websites offer easy information access through their world-class web page design. Both communities will provide:

--   Educational forums including webcasts, "ask the expert"
     opportunities, knowledge databases, application notes, technical
     tips, and links to reference materials.

--   Chat groups offering a means of generating ideas and soliciting
     feedback.

--   Product news, press releases, newsletters, contests and prizes,
     and beta site application forms.

--   User success stories and application notes.

--   A unique product/feature/maintenance storefront and access to
     paid value-added services through selected storefront partners.

--   Other features, including software downloads, updates, patches,
     and free evaluation copies.

SPECCTRA.com

DFM, one of Cadence's selected service providers, has the first storefront on SPECCTRA.com, offering routing services, consulting, and custom SPECCTRA product training.

David Price, DFM president and long-time SPECCTRA user and SPECCTRA community participant, said, "This is really something that the industry needs; a place for SPECCTRA users to go, no matter what host layout tools they are using, to get information and online help, and to exchange ideas and design techniques."

Bruce Mayer, CCTUG (SPECCTRA users group) chairman, noted, "I'm extremely pleased to see Cadence vigorously embracing the huge, loyal SPECCTRA user community with a website that is 100% user-focused. I'm sure that all the user group members will see this as a positive statement regarding Cadence's continuing support of all SPECCTRA users."

PSpice.com

"We feel that it will be a significant benefit to our customers to be able to access third-party vendor design macromodels at the Cadence PSpice.com website," stated Ralph Granchelli, vice president of marketing for Elantec Semiconductor, Inc. "Elantec is committed to supporting the effort of Cadence in this area and will provide a comprehensive library of macromodels, as well as updates, as they become available."

"Due to the PSpice product's prominence, nearly all IC vendors and third party simulation companies provide simulation models and circuit netlists in the PSpice format," said Kishore Karnane, product marketing manager for the PCB Systems Division.

"PSpice.com has been established to bring together, under one umbrella, the diverse population of PSpice users, to exchange ideas, design experiences, data, and product usage tips. PSpice.com is structured to provide these users with easy to find and useful content that can make PSpice a more efficient tool for their specific area of electrical design."

About Cadence

Cadence is the largest supplier of electronic design automation products, methodology services, and design services used to accelerate and manage the design of semiconductors, computer systems, networking and telecommunications equipment, consumer electronics, and a variety of other electronics-based products.

The Cadence PCB Systems Division, the worldwide PCB EDA market leader, addresses the entire range of design needs in the PCB market, with complete tool suites available on Windows, Windows NT, and UNIX platforms. With more than 5,000 employees and 1999 annual revenue of $1.1 billion, Cadence has sales offices, design centers, and research facilities located around the world.

The company is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CDN. More information about the company, its products and services may be obtained from the World Wide Web at http://www.cadence.com.

Note to Editors: Cadence, the Cadence logo, SPECCTRA, and PSpice are registered trademarks of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.