Infineon Licenses CARMEL DSP Core Architecture to RealChip; CARMEL DSP Will Play Key Role in Next Generation Network System-on-Chip Solutions.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2000

Infineon Technologies North America Corp. today announced that it has licensed its CARMEL(TM) DSP programmable core technology to network system-on-chip provider RealChip Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif.

As a licensable DSP core, CARMEL DSP is available as a fully synthesizable soft macro or as a hard macro. CARMEL DSP's CLIW(TM) (Configurable Long Instruction Word) technology allows SoC (System-on-Chip) designers to extend the powerful CARMEL DSP instruction set with application-specific instructions.

Using this advantage, RealChip will be able to develop SoC designs for advanced, yet cost-effective network and communication products, like high-speed modems and VoIP (Voice over IP) gateways.

&uot;The endorsement from RealChip -- a company that designs chips for some of the biggest names in the communications business -- is another example of CARMEL DSP's ability to move system-on-chip development to a significantly higher level,&uot; said Infineon's vice president, DSP Cores, Shaul Berger.

He added, &uot;The CARMEL DSP core delivers VLIW high-performance and efficient DSP MIPS without sacrificing power dissipation and code compactness.&uot;

RealChip's design focus is on new-generation communication devices and equipment in fast growing markets that include: VoIP, xDSL modems, cable modems, remote access systems, digital WANs, routers and information appliances.

&uot;We selected CARMEL DSP because it is state-of-the-art in digital signal processing, and we see it evolving into new generation technology -- it will be a key technology in our network system-on-chip methodology,&uot; said Craig Slayter, RealChip's CEO.

Faster integration and validation of semiconductor Intellectual Property (IP) is an essential part of the company's strategy to help customers get SoC-based products to market in the fastest possible time. &uot;After looking at the IP options for new generation DSP technology, we felt CARMEL DSP was a precision fit with our customers' high-speed internet infrastructure applications,&uot; Slayter explained.

&uot;Infineon's CARMEL DSP technology will be used to create pre-configured SoC building blocks, called 'Reality Objects(TM),' that can plug-and-play into our SoC architectures that enable us to bank multiple, configurable DSPs efficiently on the same platform. That potential translates into increased scale and speed for all the systems RealChip SoC devices drive, from terminal class to carrier class.

&uot;Since RealChip supplies custom communication chips, we needed a DSP architecture that can scale up to the optical world and with Infineon's CARMEL DSP, we saw a DSP technology that could scale with our customer's complex needs. RealChip's key design goals for Reality Object-based SoCs are configurabilty, extensibility, and scalability and CARMEL DSP was an obvious fit.&uot;

About Infineon

Infineon Technologies AG, Munich, Germany, offers semiconductor solutions for applications in the wireless and wired communications markets, for the automotive and industrial sectors, for security systems and chip cards as well as memory products.

With a global presence, Infineon operates in the US from San Jose, and in the Asia-Pacific region from Singapore. In the fiscal year 1999 (ending September), the company achieved sales of EUR 4.24 billion (US $ 4.51 billion) with 25,800 employees worldwide. Further information at www.infineon.com

Infineon Technologies North America Corp. is the company's North American subsidiary, with headquarters at 1730 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95112. For more information, contact 888/463-4636; 408/501-6000.

About RealChip

RealChip Inc. provides one-stop custom communication chips, specializing in network systems-on-chip (SoC). RealChip manages and takes responsibility for total chip design, production and delivery, using manufacturing, EDA, and intellectual property (IP) partnerships with leading suppliers.

To rapidly and cost effectively deliver complex chips using advanced process technologies, RealChip has extensive expertise and methodology for integration of IP into SoCs and has specially &uot;kitted&uot; selected IP into communication &uot;Reality Objects(TM)&uot; for plug-and-play into customer's designs.

RealChip is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif. and has a design center in India. Further information can be found at http://www.RealChip.com.

Any statements in this document that are not historical facts are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties; actual results may differ from the forward-looking statements. Infineon Technologies AG undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Note to Editors: Infineon, the stylized Infineon Technologies logo, CLIW, CARMEL are trademarks and servicemarks of Siemens AG. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

RealChip and Reality Objects are trademarks of RealChip Inc.