Accelerated Technology and Tensilica Alliance Provide Comprehensive Hardware and Software Solution with Nucleus PLUS Support for the Xtensa Processor

FEBRUARY 29, 2000, CHICAGO, ILL. (Embedded Systems Conference/Spring) --- Accelerated Technology, Inc., the leader of source code and non-royalty based real-time operating system (RTOS) software and Tensilica Inc., a Santa Clara-based provider of application-specific processors and development tools for System-on-Chip (SOC) designs, today announced an alliance to offer Nucleus PLUS real-time kernel support for the Xtensa processor. The combination of the proven Nucleus PLUS kernel and the configurable and extensible Xtensa processor will provide embedded systems developers with a flexible platform that can be uniquely tailored to the application requirements.

The Xtensa processor architecture and tool set provides embedded systems designers with the most integrated, complete and easy to use solution to create, verify and implement differentiated processor-based SOC designs. Nucleus PLUS, ATI's fully scalable and flexible kernel, delivers high performance with a small memory footprint. Paired with Nucleus PLUS, the Xtensa processor and development environment provides embedded systems developers with a comprehensive hardware and software solution which will reduce development time and cost.

Key to the Nucleus PLUS porting success is the Operating System overlay methodology and technology. The OS overlay, a part of the Tensilica OSKit RTOS targeting environment (patent pending) that comprises the complete RTOS support package, is automatically generated for each configuration. It provides an abstraction layer between the Xtensa processor and Nucleus PLUS, enabling all possible configurations that meet or exceed the minimum Nucleus PLUS requirements to correctly run "out of the box." As a result designers can now configure and extend the Xtensa processor and immediately start software development.

With an application specific processor configuration and unique cost advantages of the royalty-free Nucleus model, leading price-performance systems can be quickly developed. No royalty fees means that no additional costs are incurred for each application designed and sold. And because Accelerated Technology delivers Nucleus software with complete source code, developers have complete control over the application design from the visualization stage to the final product.

"The relationship between ATI and Tensilica provides a significant benefit for developers of embedded projects. By combining the open source code, no royalty model of ATI with the customizable hardware configurations provided by Tensilica, a development project can achieve a greater turnaround time with a lower cost," said M. Kyle Craig, Product Marketing Manager, Accelerated Technology, Inc.

Bernie Rosenthal, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development, stated “The operating system overlay technology in the OSKit targeting environment is a major breakthrough that will speed Xtensa based SOC development. Embedded Systems designers can concentrate on differentiating their product with the advantage of automatic full native support of any Xtensa processor configuration in the Nucleus PLUS kernel. This is important because it eliminates porting risk and time, resulting in faster time-to-market.”

Accelerated Technology provides a complete line of embedded software, ranging from kernels and a graphics package to a complete networking and embedded web suite, designed specifically with embedded developers in mind. It is their dedication to service that allows Accelerated Technology to meet the needs of engineers with their innovative and proven Nucleus software.

The Xtensa processor is targeted at high volume applications like datacom and telecom protocol processing, digital cameras, office automation products, wireless communications devices, and a spectrum of other consumer electronic products. Customers include Galileo Technology, TranSwitch, Fujitsu Telecom, and Zilog.

Pricing and Availability Nucleus PLUS is sold with source code and without royalty fees. Licenses for Nucleus PLUS for the Xtensa processor start at $12,495. The Xtensa processor pricing structure is based upon a licensing fee per instantiated design plus royalties based upon units manufactured. Licensing fees for an individually configured processor implementation and complete software tool environment start at $350,000.

About Accelerated Technology, Inc.

Accelerated Technology, Inc., an Inc. 500 company, is headquartered in Mobile, Alabama with sales offices and distributors worldwide. By providing the embedded systems community with superior customer service, a complete product line and industry leading non-royalty based Real-Time Operating System software, ATI has been recognized with many prestigious awards. These RTOS products shorten development time and reduce costs for engineers by supplying them with well-documented source code and no royalty fees. Organizations that have taken advantage of the “All You Need in an RTOS. Royalty Free” business model of ATI include Compaq, Hyundai Network, Motorola, NASA, Panasonic, Sony and Texas Instruments. Nucleus products are used in the most popular applications including telecommunications switches, set-top boxes, cellular phones and smart cards, DVD, digital cameras, GPS, printers and industrial control and medical instrumentation. For more information, please visit the site www.atinucleus.com.

About Tensilica

Tensilica was founded in July 1997 to address the fast-growing market for application-specific microprocessor cores and software development tools in high volume, embedded systems. Using the company's proprietary Xtensa™ Processor Generator, system-on-a-chip (SOC) designers can develop a processor subsystem hardware design and a complete software development tool environment tailored to their specific requirements in hours. Tensilica's solutions provide a proven, easy-to-use, methodology that enables designers to achieve optimum application performance in minimum design time. The Company is engaged in research, development, and customer support from its offices in Santa Clara, California, Waltham, Massachusetts, Princeton, New Jersey, Yokohama, Japan and London, UK.

Tensilica is headquartered in Santa Clara, California (95054) at 3255-6 Scott Boulevard, and can be reached at (408) 986-8000 or via the World Wide Web at www.tensilica.com

"Tensilica", "Xtensa" and "OSKit" are the trademarks belonging to Tensilica Inc.