Tality Signs On as Founding Member of Altera's Certified Design Center Program.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2001

Program Helps Customers Integrate System-Level Design Functions Into

System-on-a-Programmable-Chip Solutions

Tality Corporation, a subsidiary of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (NYSE:CDN) -- announced today that it has joined the Certified Design Center (CDC) program launched this week by Altera Corporation (Nasdaq:ALTR), a leading supplier of programmable logic devices (PLDs). As a CDC member, Tality will apply its world class System-on-Chip (SoC) capability to usher Altera customers into the world of System-on-a-Programmable-Chip (SOPC) devices.

Many customers want to leverage the inherent flexibility and time-to-market advantages of programmable logic by transitioning applications traditionally performed by ASICs into PLDs. Today's advanced programmable architectures, like Altera's APEX(TM), APEX(TM) II and Mercury(TM) devices, have the density and architectural complexity necessary to incorporate intellectual property and other complex functionality to make this migration a reality. With this transition comes a new level of complexity for traditional programmable logic designers in the integration of system level functions.

"By establishing the CDC program, Altera is addressing the increasingly complex engineering development needs of customers as they adopt an SOPC approach," said Craig Lytle, vice president of Altera's Intellectual Property Business Unit. "Tality's system level expertise coupled with their prowess in advanced SOC design make them an ideal partner for customers seeking to take advantage of our SOPC architectures and MegaCore product line."

Under the terms of the CDC program, Tality and Altera have optimized their technical and business interfaces such that customers can seamlessly engage with both partners to achieve their design and time-to-market goals.

"As customers look to marry the advantages of programmable logic with extensive use of intellectual property, they encounter a whole new level of design and business complexity," said Jim Douglas, vice president of marketing for Tality. "Together, Tality and Altera can provide customers with the expertise, infrastructure, technology, and processes necessary to fully take advantage of the promise of SOPC design."

About Altera

Altera, The Programmable Solutions Company(R), was founded in 1983 and is a leading supplier of programmable logic devices (PLDs). Altera's CMOS-based PLDs are user-programmable semiconductor chips that enhance flexibility and reduce time-to-market for companies in the communications, computer peripheral, and industrial markets. By using high performance devices, software development tools, and sophisticated intellectual property cores, system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) solutions can be created with embedded processors, memory, and other complex logic together on a single PLD. Altera common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol ALTR. More information on Altera is available on the Internet at http://www.altera.com.

About Tality

Tality Corporation, formerly the Electronic Design Services group of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (NYSE:CDN), was launched as a separate company in October 2000. With more than 1,100 engineers located in 14 design sites worldwide, Tality is the world's largest independent provider of engineering services and intellectual property for the design of complex electronic systems and integrated circuits. Tality is headquartered at 555 River Oaks Parkway, Building No. 3, San Jose, California, 95134. www.tality.com

Tality is a trademark of Tality, LP and its general partner, Tality Corporation. Cadence is a registered trademark of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. Altera,, The Programmable Solutions Company, and specific device designations are trademarks and/or service marks of Altera Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.