Cree and AWR Offer MMIC Process Design Kit for Microwave Office Design Suite.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Cree, Inc. and Applied Wave Research, Inc. (AWR(R)) announced today the availability of a process design kit (PDK) supporting Cree's high-power silicon carbide (SiC) process. The kit, announced at the 2006 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, enables monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) designers to use Cree's MMIC process within AWR's Microwave Office(R) software environment. Designers can now improve productivity by applying AWR's industry-leading, open, and integrated design platform to Cree's wide bandgap SiC MMIC foundry services and discrete products.

"Cree is committed to making its industry-leading power WBG MMIC technologies accessible through the EDA tools and flows our customers prefer," said Jim Milligan, Cree's manager of wide bandgap RF Products. "The release of this kit is an important part of that commitment and we are pleased to be working with AWR to provide this and future GaN solutions as well." Wide bandgap (WBG) technologies such as SiC and gallium nitride (GaN) can produce more power in a smaller space while dissipating less heat than other available device technologies.

"When it comes to WBG MMIC products and services, Cree is at the leading edge of the market," said James Spoto, AWR president and CEO. "We welcome the opportunity to have this PDK available to our customers worldwide on our powerful, open, Microwave Office design platform. We look forward to working with Cree on meeting current and future challenges in WBG MMIC power amplifier design."

About Cree, Inc.

Cree is a market-leading innovator and manufacturer of semiconductors and devices that enhance the value of solid-state lighting, power and communications products by significantly increasing their energy performance and efficiency.

Key to Cree's market advantage is its world-class materials expertise in SiC and GaN for chips and packaged devices that can handle more power in a smaller space while producing less heat than other available technologies, materials and products. Cree drives its increased performance technology into multiple applications including exciting alternatives in brighter and more tunable light for general illumination, backlighting for more vivid displays, optimized power management for high-current switch-mode power supplies and variable speed motors, and more effective wireless infrastructure for data and voice communications.

Cree customers range from innovative lighting fixture makers to defense-related federal agencies. Cree's product families include blue and green LED chips, lighting LEDs, LED backlighting solutions, power-switching devices and radio-frequency/wireless devices. For product specifications please refer to www.cree.com.

About Applied Wave Research, Inc.

Applied Wave Research is a leading supplier of high-frequency electronic design automation (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 radio-frequency (RF) design. APLAC's RF design technology has been used in designing over 30 percent of all mobile phone RF integrated circuits (ICs) worldwide. AWR today has over 700 customers 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 more information about AWR and the company's products, please visit www.appwave.com or call 310-726-3000.

AWR, the AWR logo, and Microwave Office are registered trademarks of Applied Wave Research, Inc. All other registered marks are the property of their respective holders.