Synopsys, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNPS), a world leader in semiconductor design software, today announced that it has signed an agreement with IBM that enables Synopsys to sub-license IBM's PowerPC® 440 and 405 embedded microprocessor cores and associated peripheral cores directly to customers. As a newly authorized Power Architecture™ Design Center, Synopsys now offers sub-licenses that include the right for customers to manufacture system-on-chip (SoC) designs incorporating PowerPC cores at any foundry of their choosing. Synopsys now offers the IBM cores through its DesignWare® Star IP Program.

With this agreement, Synopsys becomes the second Power Architecture Design Center outside of IBM's own business line, and the only independent supplier to offer Power Architecture cores, EDA tools, design services and other IP elements to address a full range of design issues. Customers can now obtain all the key design elements they need to create a Power Architecture-based SoC for their targeted foundry directly from Synopsys.

Synopsys provides designers with a broad portfolio of implementation IP, verification IP and hardened mixed-signal PHYs, and is the leading provider of standards-based connectivity IP. Customers can count on Synopsys Professional Services expertise in developing reuse strategies for complex designs and delivering high-quality technical and business solutions. Synopsys' recognized expertise in the Power Architecture, as well as availability of other key IP, a fully integrated design flow and broad support across all major foundries, make it the ideal choice for customers designing Power Architecture-based SoCs.

IBM's open-licensing of the Power Architecture enables Synopsys to be a key contributor in expanding the breadth of Power Architecture applications into new market segments. Both IBM and Synopsys are founding members of Power.org, an open community of more than 40 companies driving collaborative innovation around the Power Architecture technology.

"This agreement means customers can go to one source for their IP, design services and support for state-of-the-art solutions," said Ron Martino, director, Power Architecture solutions, IBM Global Engineering Solutions. "We want customers to innovate with the Power Architecture using the broad expertise which exists across the ecosystem. The Synopsys Power Architecture Design Center makes it significantly easier to innovate and access expertise."

Synopsys will be offering hardened, firm and synthesizable versions of the PowerPC cores. Synopsys also plans to integrate bi-directional bridges between the PowerPC standard CoreConnect™ and popular AMBA buses so that the full breadth of the Synopsys DesignWare IP offering can be integrated with the Power Architecture.

"Customers frequently cite the availability of high-quality IP components as a critical requirement for today's highly integrated chips with aggressive, consumer market-driven schedules. Adding the ability to sub-license PowerPC cores directly to our customers through the DesignWare Star IP program is an important additional step in addressing these requirements," said John Koeter, senior director of IP and Services Marketing at Synopsys. "Our commitment is to offer our customers industry-leading IP, support and services. The success of the Power Architecture across multiple industries and our designation as a Power Architecture Design Center status help us deliver on our commitment."

About Power Architecture

Power Architecture technology offers the broadest, most diverse market penetration of any microprocessor in the industry today. It is the digital heartbeat of all three next-generation gaming console platforms and the electronic brains of the world's highest performance supercomputers. Power Architecture technology is also the leading platform for enterprise servers, automotive systems (powertrain, advanced safety and telematics), wireless and wireline infrastructure, and enterprise routing and switching.

About Power.org

Power.org is an open community of more than 40 corporations driving innovation around Power Architecture technology. Power.org provides an open ecosystem through which its members engage in collaborative innovation on Power Architecture technology. Power.org's mission is to optimize interoperability, accelerate innovation and drive increased adoption of this leading processor architecture. For more details, visit www.power.org.

About Synopsys

Synopsys, Inc. is a world leader in EDA software for semiconductor design. The company delivers technology-leading semiconductor design and verification platforms and IC manufacturing software products to the global electronics market, enabling the development and production of complex systems-on-chips (SoCs). Synopsys also provides intellectual property and design services to simplify the design process and accelerate time-to-market for its customers. Synopsys is headquartered in Mountain View, California and has offices in more than 60 locations throughout North America, Europe, Japan and Asia. Visit Synopsys online at http://www.synopsys.com/ .

NOTE: Synopsys and DesignWare are registered trademarks of Synopsys, Inc. PowerPC is a registered trademark and CoreConnect is a trademark of IBM. Power Architecture and Power.org are trademarks licensed by Power.org. Any other trademarks or registered trademarks are the intellectual property of their respective owners.

   Editorial Contacts:

   Yvette Huygen
   Synopsys, Inc.
   650-584-4547
   yvetteh@synopsys.com

   Rachel Modena Barasch
   MCA, Inc.
   650-325-7547
   rbarasch@mcapr.com

SOURCE: Synopsys, Inc.

CONTACT: Yvette Huygen of Synopsys, Inc., +1-650-584-4547, or
yvetteh@synopsys.com; or Rachel Modena Barasch of MCA, Inc., +1-650-325-7547,
or rbarasch@mcapr.com, for Synopsys, Inc.

Web site: http://www.synopsys.com/
http://www.power.org/