Massana and Lexra Combine IP Expertise to Offer a High-Performance RISC/DSP Solution for Broadband Communications, Networking, Gateways.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

DSP World Spring Conference

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 10, 2000

Massana Inc., a high-profile semiconductor IP (SIP) company, has melded its DSP core expertise with Lexra of Waltham, Mass., an embedded processor core specialist, to produce a combined solution that provides high-performance functionality for broadband communications, networking, and low-cost gateways.

Both companies will be introducing this solution at DSP World Spring Conference, here, April 10-12, at Lexra's Booth No. 1031 and Massana's Booth No. 933.

Designated the FILU-200/LX4180, the co-developed solution consists of Massana's FILU-200 DSP coprocessor core and Lexra's LX4180 RISC core, which executes the MIPS I(R) instruction set except for unaligned loads and stores. The LX4180, a 32-bit R3000(R)-class embedded processor, features MIPS16(R) code compression, EJTAG debug support, and broad software support, making it ideal for SOCs for data communications and high-end consumer systems. Massana's FILU-200, a hardwired, pre-programmed 200 MIPS DSP coprocessor soft core, features a dual MAC architecture and is tailored to enable highest performance DSP on RISC and CISC processors. The combined product will enable a fast migration to SOC implementations. The technology is being adopted by a communications company that expects to announce its first silicon in the next few weeks. The jointly-developed FILU-200/LX4180 is available for licensing from Massana on a worldwide basis to companies that want to develop and manufacture their own silicon products.

"We are excited to be joining forces with Massana, who have proven expertise in the physical layer of high speed communications," said Charlie Cheng, president and CEO of Lexra. "Combining our RISC processor core with Massana's DSP coprocessor will provide a new solution for companies seeking increased SOC functionality."

Paul Costigan, CEO of Massana, said, "This alliance between Massana and Lexra is another very positive step toward the leveraging of our IP into broadest possible array of applications. By teaming up with Lexra, who has licensed its RISC core to more than 20 licensees worldwide, we'll be able to address the voracious appetite for bandwidth. What we're talking about here is not only broadband communications within business enterprises but also into the home. Because our current focus is on communications and networking, this co-development accord with Lexra is especially timely and relevant."

According to Irving Gold, Massana's Vice President of Marketing and Sales, "In addition to the FILU-200/LX4180 core, Lexra and Massana plan to spawn an entire product family for such application-specific solutions as VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol), VoDSL (Voice Over Digital Subscriber Line), and DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting). Thus, joining forces with Lexra allows us to expand our market reach into some extremely hot applications, many of which are being driven by the Internet revolution."

About Massana

Massana is a provider of technology for broadband communications and high-speed networking. Massana's mission is to provide lightning-fast bandwidth via its proprietary silicon solutions for standards-based communications and networking systems; these solutions are delivered through patented DSP module compiler technology coupled with proprietary DSP algorithms. Among Massana's clients/partners are Alcatel, Analog Devices, Motorola, Nortel, and Toshiba.

For more information about Massana, contact Irving Gold at Massana Inc., 51 E. Campbell Avenue, Campbell, CA 95008. Phone: [phone]; Fax: [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail]. Or visit the company on the Internet at www.massana.com.

About Lexra

Lexra, Inc. is a leading microprocessor developer specializing in 32-bit RISC and DSP cores for the embedded market. With more than 20 licensees worldwide, Lexra cores are used in communications and consumer applications including networking, Internet, digital camera, DVD and satellite communications. In 1999, Red Herring named Lexra one of top 50 private companies. Lexra is headquartered in San Jose, CA. Further information can be found at http://www.lexra.com.

MIPS I, MIPS, R3000, MIPS16 and other MIPS common law marks are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of MIPS Technologies, Inc. Lexra, Inc. is not associated with MIPS Technologies, Inc. in any way.