LightSpeed Semiconductor and Nordic VLSI Offer Fast-Turn System Chips in Scandinavia; Nordic VLSI Now Provides Design Services and Distributes LightSpeed MBA Devices.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 3, 2000

LightSpeed Semiconductor and Nordic VLSI today announced an agreement designating Nordic VLSI as a design services provider and distributor for LightSpeed's products in Scandinavia. Customers in Scandinavia with limited engineering resources now have a single source for design resources and innovative technology that enable them to achieve fast time-to-production for ASIC designs.

"Both LightSpeed and Nordic VLSI recognize the importance of optimized design cycles and fast time-to-production in markets characterized by rapidly shrinking product life cycles," noted David P. Lautzenheiser, vice president of marketing for LightSpeed. "Teaming with experienced design service suppliers like Nordic VLSI enables us to better serve our customers in all parts of the world and help them get their products to market even faster."

Because of competitive pressures requiring condensed design cycles, many companies need additional engineering support to complete their designs quickly. Nordic VLSI provides engineering services and resources with expertise in telecommunications, industrial, and consumer products. LightSpeed's Module Based Array (MBA) TopMetal(TM) -customized silicon solutions are ideal for moderate-volume designs that require high performance, high capacity, and flexibility at a reasonable price. MBAs utilize an innovative architecture that integrates unique features to enable rapid design and debug, eliminate test vector development, and support two- to three-week turnaround on production-ready parts.

"We view the fast time-to-production that LightSpeed offers as a competitive advantage for Nordic VLSI," said Odd Ronning, director of Nordic VLSI. "By adding LightSpeed's MBA technology to our product portfolio, ASIC customers can have access to the same submicron technologies now only enjoyed by our high-volume customers at a reasonable price."

Nordic VLSI's team of highly skilled engineers can save customers both time and engineering resources. Nordic VLSI will take designs from customers in a variety of formats and implement them in LightSpeed's MBA technology. Nordic VLSI engineers have experience in both ASIC and PLD design, including high proficiency with ASIC design tools, such as Synopsys' Design Compiler, that are an essential component of fast, accurate design. Nordic VLSI also has distribution capabilities to serve the specific needs of customers in Scandinavia.

About Nordic VLSI

Nordic VLSI ASA is a fabless foundry developing, producing, and delivering state-of-the-art integrated circuits for customers worldwide. This may be analog-to-digital converters (ADC), digital-to-analog converters (DAC), sensor interfaces, microprocessors, RF products, and complex ASICs. They are all essential to the high-growth semiconductor, consumer electronics, computer, and communications industries. It is the largest design house in the Nordic countries, with a total headcount of 80 highly skilled employees. All operations are managed according to an ISO 9001-approved quality assurance system. For more information on Nordic VLSI ASA and its products, please contact President Odd Ronning at [phone], e-mail address [e-mail] or go to www.nvlsi.no.

About LightSpeed Semiconductor Corporation

LightSpeed Semiconductor Corp. is a privately held corporation located in Sunnyvale, Calif. LightSpeed offers Fast-Turn System Chips(TM) for the networking and communications markets, particularly for companies that design and manufacture high-value products requiring moderate volumes of application-specific components - between 1,000 to 100,000 parts per year - and demand fast time-to-production. LightSpeeds Module Based Array architecture enables customers to significantly reduce their design and production cycle times to meet or exceed time-to-market requirements. LightSpeeds Reprogrammable Logic Engine(TM) (RLE(TM)) option is unique in the ASIC industry, allowing customers to modify high-density devices after delivery. For more information, contact: Fochson Fung, LightSpeed Semiconductor, 1151 Sonora Court, Sunnyvale, CA 94086; Phone: [phone]; Fax: [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail]; Web site: www.LightSpeed.com.

Note to Editors: Fast-Turn System Chips, Reprogrammable Logic Engine, RLE, and TopMetal are trademarks of LightSpeed Semiconductor Corp.